About Me

Chris Mooney, therapist and counsellor in Bournemouth, Dorset

I grew up in Northern Ireland and my lived experience is what inspired me to help others. Growing up there wasn’t always easy and I had a turbulent childhood, living in an environment centred around alcoholism and domestic abuse. I began to realise that I was ‘different’ at around the age of 11 and that difference turned out to be that I was gay.

My journey from adolescence into adulthood had many ups and downs; I was bullied at school for being gay and experienced homophobia from within my family. In a short space of time, my first partner took his own life, my younger brother was taken into the care system and my mother died.

When I moved to Bournemouth, I went on to build a successful career in learning and development and coaching for twenty-five years. When the Pandemic happened, it offered me the opportunity to train as a therapeutic counsellor over the course of four years, allowing me the privilege of helping people at a deeper level.

I have sought out my own therapy at various stages of my life, whether to understand my sexuality or to help with my grief, trauma, internal anger, worries and frustrations. Or simply to have my own space where I could freely express my feelings.

As a client, I've had therapy at both ends of the spectrum. I've had hugely unhelpful therapy where I was judged, pigeon-holed, told what to do or simply wasn’t understood. Conversely, I’ve also had life changing, enlightening therapy that gave me a safe space full of empathy, to explore my innermost thoughts and feelings without fear of being judged.

I provide online therapy from my private home office in Bournemouth, Dorset. I have supported adult clients with a wide range of different needs, challenges and struggles, through my work within counselling agencies and in my private practice. These challenges are as unique as my clients are, yet often connect to issues relating to relationships, stress, self-esteem, anxiety, overwhelm, sexuality, depression, burnout and bereavement.

I identify as a proud member of the LGBTQIA+ community (my pronouns are he/him/his), and I am GSRD affirming. I am inclusive and work with people of all cultures and backgrounds.

Outside of work, I love spending time with my two dogs and when I'm relaxing, I can usually be found in front of the TV watching Coronation Street, something true crime related, Strictly or something equally as highbrow.

I continue to develop my professional knowledge and skills to keep my clients’ and their needs at the heart of everything that I do, and to provide you with the best possible experience during our work together.