I'm based in Chester, not Liverpool. I want to be upfront about that. My clinic is at In Motion Clinics in Upton, about 40 minutes south of Liverpool city centre by car. But I see a steady stream of Liverpool clients, particularly for primitive reflex integration therapy, which is genuinely hard to find anywhere in Merseyside.
For CBT therapy, I also offer fully online sessions, which removes the travel question entirely. Many of my Liverpool clients never set foot in the Chester clinic. They do their CBT via video call and it works just as well. The evidence on that is clear.
Getting to Chester from Liverpool
There are two sensible options: car or train.
By car: The M53 southbound is the fastest route from most of Liverpool. From the city centre, allow 40 minutes. From south Liverpool (Aigburth, Garston, Speke), it's about the same via the A561 and M56/M53. From north Liverpool (Bootle, Crosby, Formby), add another 10 to 15 minutes. The clinic has free parking, so you won't be paying city centre rates when you arrive.
By train: Merseyrail and Transport for Wales run regular services from Liverpool Lime Street to Chester. The journey takes about 45 minutes. From Chester station, the clinic is a 10-minute taxi ride or you can catch the number 1 bus from the Bus Exchange towards Upton.
From specific Liverpool areas: Woolton and Allerton are about 35 minutes by car. Toxteth and the city centre, 40 minutes. Crosby and Waterloo, closer to 50. The Wirral tunnel route via Birkenhead can sometimes be quicker for south Liverpool if the M53 is busy.
Liverpool's Mental Health Provision
Liverpool has stronger NHS mental health services than many parts of the country. Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust runs talking therapy services, and the city's universities and training institutions produce a steady supply of therapists. You're not short of options for basic counselling in Liverpool.
But there are still gaps. NHS waiting times for specialist psychological therapy in Liverpool average 10 to 16 weeks. CAMHS waiting times across Merseyside have been widely reported as exceeding 12 months for non-urgent referrals. And for anything outside mainstream provision, the options thin out fast.
That's where I come in. Not as a replacement for what Liverpool offers, but as a complement. Specifically for two things.
Why Liverpool Clients Come to Me
Specialist CBT with genuine depth of experience. Liverpool has CBT therapists. But many offer CBT as one of several approaches. I've done nothing but CBT for 13 years, across military and civilian settings, with adults and young people, across the full range of conditions. When you need someone who really knows their stuff with complex OCD, treatment-resistant PTSD, or severe anxiety disorders, specialism matters. I've treated hundreds of people with these conditions. It's not a sideline for me.
Primitive reflex integration therapy. This is the main reason Liverpool clients make the journey. Primitive reflex integration addresses retained neurological reflexes that should have been integrated in early childhood. When they persist, they can affect everything from concentration and reading ability to anxiety and emotional regulation. I'm one of very few clinicians in the northwest offering this assessment and treatment. Most families I see for PRI have been searching for answers for months or years.
A Calmer Environment
This might sound like a small thing, but it matters. Therapy is easier in a calm environment. My clinic in Upton is in a quiet part of Chester with no traffic noise, no city centre bustle, and no fight for parking. Several Liverpool clients have told me they actually value the drive. It gives them time to decompress before their session and process things on the way home. Therapy shouldn't feel like another stressful appointment crammed into a busy day.
Online CBT for Liverpool Clients
If the drive doesn't work for you, online CBT is a genuine option. I'm not offering it as a poor substitute. Meta-analyses consistently show that online CBT produces equivalent outcomes to face-to-face CBT for anxiety and depression. You need a private space, a decent internet connection, and a device with a camera. That's it.
I use secure video platforms and the sessions run exactly the same way as in-person appointments. Same length, same approach, same homework. The only thing I can't do online is primitive reflex assessment, which requires hands-on testing.
What I Treat
CBT therapy for anxiety disorders, depression, OCD, PTSD, phobias, eating disorders, anger problems, low self-esteem, and health anxiety. I work with adults and young people from around age 10.
Primitive reflex integration for retained ATNR, TLR, Spinal Galant, STNR, and other reflexes. Thorough assessment followed by a structured home exercise programme with regular review sessions.
Free Phone Consultation
Not sure if the journey is worth it? Call me. The initial phone consultation is free and I'll be honest about whether I'm the right person to help. If what you need is available closer to home, I'll tell you. Call 07469 870 295 or use the contact form to get in touch.
