Having talked to him on the phone to arrange for an interview I was surprised by his physical frailty when we met. This man, who has had seven brain haemorrhages and more recently suffered a shattered hip, sees three new clients and holds up to twenty sessions a week, all with violent men. When men arrive here they feel very insecure.
All violent men are insecure.
I ve tried to initially instil some emotional security through these carefully arranged surroundings. It was true, this converted back end of a garage did emanate peace. It was unfussily decorated with old wooden furniture, a bookshelf bedecked with self-help manuals and two cosy armchairs. I m Britain s most experienced counsellor in this field. I put this down to my experience and the techniques we use.