During a tough time in Edward Hopgood’s life, he sought counselling and soon noticed a significant difference in how he could handle the stresses and struggles that had been troubling him.

Now, after 25 years in technology sales, he has switched career and wants to offer similar support to for other men by creating a safe and confidential space where they can feel comfortable discussing their mental health, relationships, career challenges, and anything else they want to get off their chest.

The 47-year-old opened a new service in Highworth to provide therapy and mental health support for men.

Ed said: “I think awareness of mental health is growing, generally and has become more prevalent in the younger generation.

“More men are having therapy, which is a great move in the right direction.

“When parts of my life were not working brilliantly and everything felt overwhelming, I tried therapy, which helped me gain clarity and perspective and control of my life.

“A support network of friends and family is good, but sometimes they want to solve everything for you and, although that comes from a good place, you just want someone to acknowledge the impact something’s having on you so you can find a solution on your own.

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“The counsellor wouldn’t offer advice or solutions, they helped me understand my feelings, and I could say what I truly felt without fear or judgement.

“After seeing how much better and more grounded I felt, I was fascinated by how it worked, so I trained as a counsellor and thought there was a gap for men who wanted to chat to a trained male counsellor.

“There is still a bit of a stigma for men around discussing mental health, more than physical health, but it’s just as important.

“I want there to be more communication and encouragement for men to access a service if they need it, knowing they will be respected and valued.”

At first, SubRosa – which is Latin for ‘confidential’ – Counselling was online-only until Ed found suitable spaces to host in-person sessions in Barton House, near the High Street, earlier this year.

It’s got off to a good start, with clients booked in on weekdays and evenings, and he hopes to grow the service even more in the future.

For more information, visit www.SubRosaCounselling.co.uk, call 07443 308683, or email info@SubRosaCounselling.co.uk