Barry Golten

Therapist Directory Listing Category: Online Therapy

About the Therapist

About the therapist:

Having originally trained as an Integrative counsellor. in the late 1990's I spent many years working in homelessness and later as a trauma trainer. In 2020 I restarted my private practice as a counsellor, initially part time and more recently full time. Most of my work is online.

Although I am flexible about the way I work with people, my main approach is Internal Family Systems (IFS). This is a model which sees us as being made up of parts which have roles and beliefs, designed to protect us. Getting to know these parts can help us find self acceptance and ways to let go of protections from the past which are no longer needed.

Sexual identity:

Bi- | Pansexual
Kink - BDSM

Gender identity: Male

Gender history: As assigned at birth

Non-monogamy: Yes

Intersex: No

Neurodivergent: No

Personal pronouns: He/him

Qualifications - Links to websites:

Diploma in Counselling - UWE - 1998

Diploma in Solution Focused Practice - BRIEF - 2012

Internal Family Systems - Level 1 - IFS Institute UK - 2024

https://www.bacp.co.uk/therapists/386015/barry-golten/Bristol

https://www.barrygoltencounselling.com/

Qualifications - Additional:

Award	Awarding body	Year of award

Experience and approach:

I first saw counselling clients as a volunteer with an alcohol service in 1991. I have been in private practice since December 2020. Prior to this I spent 20 years as manager in youth homelessness . I also spent 3 years as a Trainer in Trauma and Attachment.

The integrative Counselling Diploma I achieved in 1998 is the bedrock of my practice. It gave me the fundamentals of listening and asking good questions. In 2012 I was awarded a diploma in Solution Focused Practice. This approach helped me to believe in the power of people to find their own solutions.

In 2024 I completed Level 1 in Internal Family Systems. This is my main approach now. Some people will be happy to work with their parts directly whereas others will work in a more person centred way and I will keep their parts in mind. (See my website for more on Parts and IFS). I am accepted onto IFS Level 2 in August 2025.

Approaches: