17th May 2012 
counselling st albans #01

At your service - Chris Bristow - relationship counsellor and psychosexual therapist

Hi, I'm Chris Bristow, a qualified and highly experienced Relate trained relationship counsellor and sex therapist who offers professional skilled help and support to individuals and couples of any orientation facing difficulty, transition or crisis.
An impartial, empathic and trained listener, I am warm, non-judgemental, good humoured, broad-minded, reliable, flexible and, from £40 per hourly session - affordable!
My counselling style is to be sensitive, caring, sharing and approachable - not a distant impenetrable blank canvas or the all-knowing 'expert' who pathologises your issues and remains cold and aloof. Neither do I operate a 'one size fits all' approach because I am committed to respecting your individuality and therefore your right to choose how you might progress, either individually or in partnership, towards a more fulfilling and enjoyable future.
I have a long and successful track record of helping people from all walks of life to become more confident, relaxed, empowered and acceptant of both the things that they can't change and the things that they can!(*See Client Feedback section)
My work focuses on helping you to get in touch with, and value, your inner resources to help problem-solve from a position of personal power and strength.
It is my policy to see clients within a few days under normal circumstances. I operate from comfortable therapy rooms in the village of Sandridge, near St Albans with free off-street parking.
I am a member of, and bound by the ethical codes of, British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, College of Sexual and Relationship Therapists, Experienced Counsellors Network and Couples Counselling Network. My details are listed with the Counselling Directory, on the Holistic Community website and can also be found via the Find A Therapist section of 247coaching.com and in the The UK Directory of Counselling and Psychotherapy
You can CLICK HERE to find out where I am located and you can email any questions by CLICKING HERE or telephone 07939 529929 or 01727 857722 for an informal chat. If the answerphone or voicemail is on please leave a clear message and I'll get back to you. For more details click on Get In Touch on the menu bar (top left).


couples counselling st albans #02

If you answer YES to any of the following then Chris Bristow can help.

Is communication with your partner strained or restricted to routine 'safe' subjects only?
  • Do more criticisms come your way than compliments?
  • Does your partner shut down or go cold on you, or flare up and display 'hot' anger too often for comfort?
  • Do you say what you think your partner wants to hear for the sake of a quiet life?
  • Are your requests for help and support dismissed as nagging?
  • Does your partner make all the right noises but brushes things under the carpet and rarely actually fulfills a promise?
  • Are you worn out by your partner's delaying tactics or are you constantly feeling undermined and undervalued?
  • Do you row frequently, or do arguments between you ever get out of hand?
  • Do you store up resentments and use them as ammunition in a row?
  • Do you ever feel controlled by your partner - over what you can wear, spend or who you can see?
  • Does your relationship feel it may be heading towards break up and you're feeling helpless about how to turn things around?
  • If your partner wants more commitment from you does it feel like you're finding fault with them and considering whether it's time to move on?
  • Do you keep going from one unsatisfactory relationship to another but can't work out why?
  • Do your relationships always follow the same destructive pattern?
  • Has trust been shattered by infidelity or covert use of pornography?
  • Have you been unfaithful and you're not being understood or forgiven?
  • Are you suffering from the aftermath of an affair?
  • Are you obsessing about your partner's movements, past or present?
  • Does your life feel overwhelmed by feelings of jealousy, lack of confidence or self-belief?
  • Are you drained out by coping with all the pressure of meeting others' needs?
  • Has your sex life lost its sparkle or frequency rate?
  • Is a specific sexual problem making you or your partner anxious?
  • Are you finding that viewing pornography is taking up too much of your time?
  • Are you engaging in high-risk sexual behaviour or fighting temptation to do so?
  • Do you download sexually explicit images to view later?