About the author

Image of Jerry Livings, Mental Health Counsellor

I'm Jerry Livings, a fully qualified counsellor in the UK.

My experience is in supporting adults through a wide range of life challenges, including bereavement, loneliness, anxiety, retirement and major life transitions.

As an older person myself, I understand how those changes can affect confidence, connection and peace of mind.

Although this website is not a counselling service, my experience informs my style of writing: simple, respectful, practical and compassionate.

My aim is to make useful information easier to access, especially for older people who prefer straightforward written guidance.

Experience

I've worked with Ellenor Hospice, Shaw Trust and MIND, supporting people through loss, adjustment and emotional wellbeing.

At MIND in Maidstone, I worked with the team providing a low-cost counselling service to adults in the community.

At Ellenor Hospice in Gravesend, I provided

bereavement counselling to terminally ill patients and their adult relatives.

At Shaw Trust, I provided counselling support to people enrolled in employability programmes.

As a self-employed counsellor, I've been in practice since 2018, working with adult clients from a range of backgrounds, ages and cultures.

Now semi-retired, I founded Older People in 2025 and continue to improve this website.

Qualifications

Level 5 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling Practice - AIM Awards 2020

Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling - AIM Awards 2019

Level 4 Diploma in Counselling Skills & Theory - AIM Awards 2018

Accreditation

Accredited Member, National Counselling & Psychotherapy Society (MNCPS)

Registered Member, British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (MBACP)

About My Book

I'm also the author of Living With Loss: A Practical Guide to Bereavement in Later Life.

The book was written for older people who are grieving and for those who support them.

It is available on Amazon in paperback, hardback and Kindle ebook formats.

Available now on Amazon: Click Here

Important Note

OlderPeople.co.uk is an information website. It does not provide counselling, therapy, medical advice, diagnosis, crisis support or emergency help.

If you feel at risk of harming yourself or someone else, or you feel unable to stay safe, please seek urgent help immediately.

In the UK, you can:

Call Emergency Services immediately on 999
Visit your nearest Accident and Emergency department
Call Samaritans on 116 123
Contact your GP