Simon Rolph is a counsellor with specialist knowledge of working therapeutically within the disability sector.

Simon believes that a combination of exposure to both nature and talking therapy can be a powerful and holistic approach to improving mental health, physical health and overall well-being.

With over 10 years of experience, Simon has worked as a counsellor within the neurological disability sector, supporting men, women, adolescents and children with a broad range of therapeutic topics. Prior to being a counsellor, Simon was a farmer and landscape gardener on his UK-based family farm.

“I enjoy making each session unique to the individual needs of the client. Some sessions will be 90% nature-based activity and only 10% talking therapy, others 90% talking and 10% nature-based. Most have a natural blend of the two together with the underlying guiding principle of supporting clients towards their own, chosen goals”

Simon is guided by values of acceptance and compassion. These are fundamental to how he offers therapy, helping clients develop both greater self-acceptance and a kinder and more supportive relationship with themselves. 

With a Bachelor of Counselling from the University of Notre Dame and having recently completed a Graduate Diploma in Family and Relationship Therapy, Simon’s next focus will be on integrating his experiences of counselling, farming, and landscaping through horticulture therapy-based training.

Simon loves bush walking, being surrounded by trees, caring for his growing flock of chickens and converting his own suburban front and back yard into an urban farm and natural therapeutic space. 

Simon believes in the importance of having an individual sense of meaning and direction in life for positive mental health and overall wellbeing. 

“If one’s purpose is lost or never held in the first place, our mental health can suffer significantly”.

One of Simon’s core beliefs is that nature has the potential to play a significant role in helping clients find their own direction in life.

Qualifications & Training:

• Bachelor of Counselling from the University of Notre Dame
• Graduate Diploma in Family and Relationship Therapy