What Kent offers can’t really be described by any online bio, I feel incredibly lucky to have had the opportunity to work together. I found myself in was in a very tough spot personally,  and it was becoming impossible to keep all the plates spinning myself. On the surface, I had little to complain about, but internally I was so lost.

Our work together, led by Kents counselling, genuinely changed my life trajectory in an immeasurably positive way. Kent provided immense support and understanding, genuine connection and care for my wellbeing. He gave me space and confidence to speak to everything on my mind, half of which I never thought I’d say to another human being. Each time you spoke I felt like weight had been lifted.

His life experience, his abilities as a counsellor, his career in the office and on the field is an incredibly unique combination. I believe so so many people would benefit from time with Kent.

On top of all this, I cant stress enough, Kent is just an awesome person. His presence alone picks me up, and his openness as a human is so utterly rare. He’s a guy you need in your locker room. Thank you Kent, forever grateful.

Deception. What is it?

As a single word it conjures an all too perjorative response. Everything from pea and thimble confidence tricksters to Enron and Lehman Brothers.

But what deception means enirely relies on context. Shakespeare used it in myriad ways; from the playful to the horrible.

And if we wish to rid deception of it’s horrible, perjorative face, we need only to turn to sport. In sport, deception is the most prized and celebrated of skills. Think an equisitely disguised Federer dropshot, or Bekham bending it like, well, Becham. Who knew what McEnroe would do at the net.

But, in sprort, was there ever a greater practioner of the art of deception than Shane Warne? Warne boasted that renowned cricket tragics Elton John and Mick Jagger had both said that if they could not have been themselves but could have been anyone else it would have been him! And who is to doubt it? Certainly, when Jagger wrote a quarter of a century before the ‘ball of the century’ that “(s)he was practised in the art of deception” he could not have had someone better in mind than his later friend from down under.

But if, in a Shakespearian way, all our lives are a series of comedies and drama, it seems to me that deecption can take all forms at different moments. But to say that each moment was independent and not influenced by any other would, it seems to me, be wrong.

What about rugby?

At its best (not in the forwards mind you) rugby can be beautiful. It can be deciving though. In fact, to be great, it must be. Just as a line of ballerinas can decive you into thinking they are swans, great rugby players decive you into seeing the world as it is not. Jason Little ran seemingly slowly, but his smooth movements were such that he was on the trvaelator at the airport while everyone elase around him was moving at normal pace.

And so to a friend of mine.

Kent Bray was as beautiful a rugby player as you would ever hope to see. And, boy, could he decieve. Going one way – no he’s not. Passing to the left when charging to the right.  Making holes in defensive walls that noone saw like pushing a baggage trolley through platform 9 3/4!

I played rugby with Kent. So, to a degree, I am a bit like Will Carling! But we played before he was a superstar. I occasionally got to pass the ball to him and marvel in what he did with it.

If you Google “Kent Bray Rugby” you will find photos of him. Each of them reflectling a steely determination.

And decpetion and determination are common bedfellows. The most determined individual game of rugby I ever saw played was by Kent on the day following the death of his brother, Scott. I did not know Kent then, but had marvelled at his brilliance in pasy games. The deception of that day was that to most who were there they were unaware of the grief of the boy wearing jersey 15; and he was going to play the house down. And he did.

When the game was won and there was nothing to lose, a final kick at goal proved too much. He lost his steely composure and gave way to his grief. His great conspiritor in all matters of deception on the rugby field, and another friend of mine, Clem Domic, took (and missed) the goal.

Kent went to England, played rugby at the highest level and forged a career in banking on the back of his training as a lawyer and studies in finance at Oxford. I have no doubt that the determination I knew in him took him to those places.

But what of his capacity to deceive? That mercurial ability to make something appear other than it is?

Kent, by his own courageous confessions, has spoken of the addiction to cocaine he developed when working in banking.

He has completely changed his life. He has spoken, though, of how friends and family did not see what was happening. One wonders how the capacity to deceive and bedazzel on the rugby pitch translates to other aspects of life. Like defenders in a backline, they stood there seeing their own reality while he deftly stepped off both feet into another.

Kent’s is a redemption story. I was overwhelmed with admiration for that 17 year old in 1981. I am even more so now.

I feel incredibly fortunate to have found Kent. He has been a tremendous support in helping me navigate my mental health, struggles with alcohol, and self-doubt. What sets him apart is his unique ability to connect various issues and pinpoint the underlying causes, which has been crucial to my progress. He consistently remembers the key details of our sessions, making each one feel personal and tailored to my needs. His warm and friendly demeanor, combined with his lived experience, makes him not only a great therapist but also someone who truly understands. I am deeply grateful for his guidance and would highly recommend him to anyone seeking help.

I started speaking to Kent at a crossroads in my life with addiction. Kent’s main goal at the outset was to provide the foundation for me to become a better human and by doing that he provided the framework for me to see all the ways to do this on a daily basis and that helped drive a lot of my negative tendencies away to the very back of my mind. He didn’t lecture, but instead listened and guided me through week to week, helping me realise the goodness I have in my life and how I needed to return to be present and available for all of them. I can honestly say having spoken to Kent for a number of months I am more present, more available and a better person.

If you are looking for a genuine, non-judgmental and thoughtful counsellor/mentor (with a good sense of humour too) then Kent is the right person for you. Kent has provided me with a much-needed “life reboot” which has given me far more clarity as to how I am going to tackle the next decade (and beyond) of my career but more importantly family life……………

I am definitely glad I had the sessions with him and would have no hesitation in recommending him

I came to Kent through seeing a Podcast and I was struck by how genuine and honest he was. This was a man I could work with. I was right. I have laughed and cried. I have poked around in parts of my past I would rather have not looked at again, and he has been by my side laughing and crying with me. I cannot recommend him enough. The tools I now have my mental health toolbox are fabulous.

I got introduced to Kent through a mutual connection and our first chat was to see if there was any way we could work together as I have roles in the health and wellbeing space.

We talked about how people generally look after their bodies but not their minds and decided I would be a guinea pig for a mental health service.

I had six sessions with Kent the first few were for Kent to find out who I was. We deep dived into some of the traumatic things that I have been through and this proved really cathartic and also talked about the good stuff which certainly pumped up my tyres.

I do have a propensity to go high and low at times so in the last couple of sessions we discussed some tools and thought processes to help me when I’m not great.

Kent was brilliant throughout, empathetic, straight talking and supportive.

When I first met Kent, he was totally focused on doing the 12-step programme with me. Because I totally disagree with the 12 steps, I thought this was going nowhere fast. I was delighted when he very quickly adapted his style of counselling to my personal needs. Since then, I’ve built an amazing rapport with Kent, and I now see our meetings as being the end and then restart of my week, with the hour we spend together giving me the chance to offload all my problems and then setting me up with positive thoughts and feelings as to how to start off the following week. I find Kent to be an amazing Counsellor with a lot of real-life experience, but also the ability to take stuff from our sessions to learn and grow as a Counsellor. His ability to listen, understand and give positive advice, makes Kent one of the best counsellors I’ve come across. Believe me, in the 38 years I’ve been a drug addict I’ve come across a lot, most of which being rubbish. All this being said I fully recommend Kent as a Counsellor

Kent has been an extraordinary pillar of support in my life over the past year. He’s not just a therapist; he’s my confidant, a constant source of unwavering support, and a beacon of hope and reflection I can rely upon each week.
Kent’s warm and welcoming demeanour, coupled with his full acceptance of me as a woman of colour and member of the LGBTQ+ community, allowed me to quickly develop a strong therapeutic bond with him. Within this space I found the comfort to be open and vulnerable, allowing us to work on some of the most difficult aspects of my mental health and life history.
Kent’s guidance has been instrumental across various aspects of my life; he has supported me in completing my degree, in processing the grief I experienced after losing my mother, in managing my long-term anxiety, ADHD, and depression, and in navigating life’s general highs and lows.
Having worked with several therapists over the years I consider myself incredibly fortunate to have had Kent as my therapist throughout this challenging period of my life. His compassion, positive outlook, and commitment to my well-being has been invaluable and I am a stronger person because of our therapeutic journey. I firmly believe that anyone seeking support would be incredibly fortunate to have Kent as their therapist and I look forward to continuing my work with him. All the best.

I have been working with Kent for a year now and it has been an absolute pleasure. He has been unparalleled in helping me not only grow as a person but to tackle some of my inner demons and defects. I find him very easy to talk to and supportive of my journey but also straight talking and to the point when I need it. He has extensive life experience, good humour, buckets of empathy and a huge heart! I am very grateful our paths crossed.