Simon Parkin

Simon supports adolescents and adults, with a special interest in working with boys and men who are seeking support with their mental health. With a unique combination of international experience across the fields of mental health and education, he is drawn to work with clients who are experiencing challenges related to the themes of identity, relationships, belonging, loneliness, low mood, grief, masculinity and life transitions. Navigating some of these themes in his own life during adolescence and adulthood has been both a source of growth and challenge and continues to inspire him to do this important and meaningful work in the community.

Simon has worked as a counsellor at international schools in Singapore and the Netherlands, supporting adolescents with a range of challenges related to themes including anxiety, identity, self-esteem, exam-stress, grief, low mood and relationships. Having lived in the UK, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, and the Netherlands, Simon has personal experiences of and insights into the joys and complexities of adapting to new environments and is especially passionate about supporting globally mobile international families and third-culture kids (TCK’s) with transitions both within and between countries, cultures, schools and communities.

His warm therapeutic style is guided by person-centred and humanistic approaches, integrating elements of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), expressive therapies and solution-focused approaches in collaboration with his clients. Simon works in a non-pathologising and trauma-aware way, placing relationships, authenticity, connection, safety, and belonging at the heart of his work.

Whilst living in the Netherlands, Simon undertook leadership training in Rites of Passage facilitation, an experience that profoundly shaped his understanding of self-discovery, transition, and the value of community support and mentorship. His training and own personal experiences in groups and men’s circles have added a deeper awareness of approaches for supporting individuals, families, and communities.

Born in Leeds, UK, Simon’s family relocated to Oman when he was 6 years old, where he attended an international school in Muscat – an experience which he credits as the catalyst for his overseas journey. On returning to Yorkshire as a teenager, he enjoyed playing rugby throughout school and went on to pursue a BSc in Sports Science ,which was followed by a PGCE in Physical Education from the University of Bath. He began his career as a PE teacher in schools both in the UK and Saudi Arabia before making the decision to retrain as a Counsellor through Monash University.

Simon enjoys spending time outside and incorporating nature based therapeutic approaches into both his personal and professional practices. Outside of work, he finds balance through a variety of physical pursuits, drinking good coffee and enjoys iphone photography. He has been known to enjoy an ice bath – especially when in the tropical climate of Singapore.

Simon is married and the proud father of two teenage boys —very much seeing himself as a ‘dad in progress’- an ongoing imperfect and humbling journey which continues to challenge, inspire and inform his understanding of adolescence, parenting, relationships and the challenges boys and men face today.