Dr GARY TEBBLE

• Dr Gary Tebble is a Counsellor, Psychotherapist, and Clinical Supervisor with specialist expertise in working with children, young people, and families. He holds a First-Class BA (Hons) in Psychology and Counselling Skills, an MA in Clinical Counselling from the University of Chester, and a Professional Doctorate in Counselling and Psychotherapy. His doctoral research led to the development of a novel model of psychotherapy designed specifically for children and young people with Specific Learning Difficulties (SpLD).
• Gary is an accredited member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (MBACP Accred., 152062), a Graduate Member of the British Psychological Society (GMBPsS, 758976), and is recognised as a Researcher/Academic within Psychology. He is also a qualified EMDR therapist (EMDR UK TO353), a licensed Dialectical Behaviour Therapist through the Linehan Institute, and has specialist training in the AIM Assessment Models for children under 12 displaying problematic or harmful sexual behaviours. He is a member of the National Organisation for the Treatment of Abusers (NOTA).
• His academic background is complemented by wide-ranging clinical and applied experience across education, health, and forensic settings. Gary has worked therapeutically with young people presenting with complex trauma, attachment difficulties, neurodevelopmental conditions such as autism/ADHD, harmful behaviours, and those in care (LAC). He previously led a successful school-based counselling service focused on supporting students with significant emotional and psychological needs.
• Gary is a published author and active researcher in the field of child and adolescent mental health, with particular interests in CAMHS alternatives, creative therapies, and inclusive psychotherapeutic models. He has contributed to multiple publications and book chapters in the areas of child psychotherapy, symbolic and creative approaches, and therapeutic work with SpLD populations. He also continues to work in an associate psychotherapy/clinical supervisory role, maintaining his connection to clinical practice and research-led intervention.

Publications 

• TEBBLE, G. (2016) Cited in: Gubi, P. and Swinton, V. (eds.) Researching lesser-explored issues in counselling and psychotherapy. London: Karnac Books.
  (Contributed to a chapter exploring under-researched areas in therapeutic practice.)
• REEVES, A. and TEBBLE, G. (2018) Cited in: Reeves, A. (ed.) An introduction to counselling and psychotherapy: From theory to practice. 2nd ed. London: Sage.
  (Co-authored a cited contribution focused on applied counselling practice.)
• TEBBLE, G. (2017) ‘Shared decision making’, Children and Young People’s Journal, British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP).
• DSA, MAURELLE., RELPH, NICOLA., LIVERPOOL, SHAUN., TEBBLE, GARY., & OWEN, MICHAEL. (2025). Multi-component interventions combining psychotherapy and physical activity for children and young peoples’ mental health: A scoping review. PLOS Mental Health, 2(6), 1-29. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmen.0000227

Research Interests

Dr Gary Tebble’s research is grounded in applied therapeutic practice and aims to enhance the accessibility, responsiveness, and inclusivity of counselling and psychotherapy for children, young people, and families.

His current research interests include:

• Shared Decision Making and Meta-Therapeutic Communication in counselling and psychotherapy with children and young people.

• The efficacy of pluralistic approaches in child and adolescent psychotherapy, including work with neurodiverse populations.

• Therapeutic engagement with children and young people with Specific Learning Difficulties (SpLD) and Special Educational Needs (SEND).

• Research ethics and methodological innovation in psychotherapy research with vulnerable populations, particularly children and young people.

• The use of case study and case series methodology in therapeutic research with both adults and young people.

• Complex trauma and attachment issues in child and adolescent populations.

• The role and outcomes of psychotherapy with adolescents who have engaged in offending behaviours.

• The development and impact of school-based counselling (SBC) as an early intervention.

• Inter-agency collaboration in the care and support of complex child and adolescent cases.

• The application and evaluation of EMDR therapy with adolescents in forensic or high-risk settings.

• Boys’ and men’s mental health, with a focus on increasing access to and engagement with therapeutic services.

• Neurodiversity, including strategies to widen access to therapy for children and young people with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

Collaborations and Professional Networks

Dr Gary Tebble maintains a strong network of academic and professional connections across the counselling, psychotherapy, and applied psychology fields. He has established collaborative links with several universities, including the University of Chester, Wrexham Glyndŵr University, and the University of Manchester, through joint research activity, supervision, and practice-based enquiry.

He holds longstanding professional affiliations with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and is also a Graduate Member of the British Psychological Society (GMBPsS), contributing to professional conversations at the intersection of counselling, psychotherapy, and psychological research.

Gary is well-connected within the pluralistic counselling research community, and maintains active engagement with colleagues working in child and adolescent mental health, inclusive psychotherapy, and creative therapeutic methods. He also works across disciplines, supporting professionals in education, social care, and mental health, with a commitment to collaborative, evidence-informed practice.

Clinical Supervision and Interdisciplinary Research Interests

Dr Gary Tebble is an experienced clinical supervisor, offering supervision to practitioners across a range of psychological and therapeutic professions, including counsellors, psychotherapists, psychologists, and other therapists. His supervision practice also extends to allied health professionals such as social workers, teachers, and pastoral/mental health staff working within education and care settings.

Gary’s interdisciplinary approach informs a number of emerging research interests at the intersection of mental health, education, and social care.

These include:

• Exploring the supervision needs of non-clinical professionals delivering emotional and therapeutic support in schools and community settings.

• Investigating collaborative models of care across education, health, and social work for children and young people with complex needs.

• Evaluating the impact of clinical supervision on professional resilience, ethical practice, and service user outcomes in multi-agency contexts.

• Developing trauma-informed and neurodiversity-affirming approaches to supervision and staff support.

Dr Tebble is particularly interested in research that bridges the gap between academic theory, clinical practice, and the lived realities of practitioners supporting vulnerable children and families across sectors.