Start with a welcome call
We discuss what you want to work on, the time you want to give it and the support that fits. Your welcome call is free and carries no obligation to book.
Each conversation paid for in advance is a credit in hand. We agree mutually practical times around your rota, deployments and leave. The 30-day plan provides the starting structure, with any schedule adapted to your work commitments and confirmed in your personalised working agreement, subject to availability and the agreed credit validity and cancellation terms.
A plan around your work commitments
A welcome call, followed by four or five conversations. We use the 30-day plan as a starting point and agree a schedule that works with your work commitments. We agree a focus and practical work to try between meetings.
£220
4 conversations
£275
5 conversations
More time in each meeting
£340
4 × 90-minute conversations
£85 per conversation
Longer conversations for a concern you want to give more time to. We agree a focus, work through what is happening and review practical steps between meetings.
Optional ongoing support
After the initial work, we can agree a less frequent pace. Fortnightly conversations give us time to check in on changes you have made and discuss what needs attention.
£110 per month
2 × 50-minute conversations paid in advance. Four conversations over two months if you continue. No automatic renewal.
Discuss ongoing supportPAYG is available as a standalone option. Choose 50 minutes at £60 or 90 minutes at £90 for on-demand work.
Before booking a conversation on board or on an installation, we check your location, connection and access to a private space. We agree a time that fits around your duties and protects your rest time.
A cabin may be suitable if you can speak without being overheard. If you share a cabin or cannot get a reliable connection, tell me before booking.
Some offshore workers arrange counselling during work time with permission from their HR or welfare team. If this would help you, ask your team whether they can support an appointment while you are on board. We can then discuss a time when you can step away from duties and speak privately.
You can ask for online or telephone sessions while at home, or appointments in Southport. We agree the dates and frequency together. We can also discuss single-session therapy if you want to focus on one issue in a planned session.
Each conversation you pay for in advance is held as a credit to use at a mutually practical time. We agree appointments around your rota and availability, so payment can be made before a suitable time is settled. Credit validity and cancellation terms are set out in your working agreement.
I work flexibly around offshore rotas and understand that deployments, sailing dates and crew changes can move at short notice. Let me know as soon as your plans change so we can review your appointments together. Alternative dates are subject to availability and the working agreement.
For sessions outside the UK, I need to check whether I can work with you in that location before confirming a booking.
The focus comes from you. Examples of topics we could discuss include:
We discuss what is happening and agree what to focus on. If your needs fall outside my practice, I will explain that and discuss other support.
I’m Chris Brotherton, an NCPS Accredited Registrant based in Southport. My work is grounded in person-centred therapy, with further training in CBT, Focused Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (FACT) and Restorative Practice, and a specialist qualification in drug and alcohol counselling.
Before counselling, I worked in agency recruitment from 2002, including Oilfield Medics Ltd, deploying safety medics to UK and international assets.
Read about my training and professional registrationsUse email or WhatsApp to make an enquiry or discuss appointment arrangements. Any additional support between sessions would need a separate agreement covering what is included, the fee and response times.
This is an appointment-based counselling service, not an on-call or emergency service.
I explain confidentiality and its limits before sessions begin. I do not routinely report session content to employers or crewing agencies, but I cannot offer an absolute promise that information will never be shared. See the privacy notice and working agreement.
Counselling is separate from an assessment of fitness for duty. Questions about an ENG1 or an offshore medical should go to the relevant medical examiner, including what information you need to disclose.
For the relevant guidance, see the MCA seafarer medical certification guidance and OEUK offshore medical guidance.
We can discuss this before booking. You need a private space and a connection suitable for a video or phone call. Appointments can take place off duty or during work time with permission from your HR or welfare team, when you can step away from duties without affecting your rest time. Tell me your location and time zone so I can check whether I can provide conversations there. If these arrangements are not workable, we can discuss appointments during leave.
I understand that deployments, crew changes and shift patterns can move at short notice. Each conversation paid for in advance is held as a credit to use at a mutually practical time. Contact me as soon as you know your plans have changed so we can review your appointments and look for alternative dates, subject to availability. Credit validity and cancellation terms in our working agreement still apply.
I do not routinely send session information to your employer or crewing agency. Counselling has confidentiality limits, including safeguarding concerns, serious and imminent risk of harm, and disclosure required by law. I explain these before we start. Relevant session material may also be discussed anonymously in clinical supervision. The privacy notice explains how information is used.
I do not assess fitness for duty or decide medical certification. For an ENG1, ask an MCA-approved doctor. For an offshore medical, ask the doctor carrying out that assessment. Give the examiner accurate information and ask what you need to disclose. I cannot promise that counselling or a health condition will have no bearing on a medical assessment.
No. We agree what you want to work on. That might be a work issue, a relationship, bereavement, anxiety, alcohol or drug use, or something else you want to discuss.
Send your name, work and leave dates, where you would be for sessions and how you would like me to reply. Include a brief outline of what you want to discuss.
Telephone: 07368 947 855
Tell me about your rota and work commitments. We can discuss the format and appointment times that would work for you. Your welcome call is free and carries no obligation to book counselling.