John Phelan, BACP

Client-Centred Therapy puts the person at the heart of the process. The counsellor listens closely and follows the client's pace, helping people feel heard and understood. This suits issues like low self-esteem, relationship worries and decisions about life direction.

Psychodynamic Therapy looks at patterns that began in the past and still affect current feelings and reactions. A short conversation can reveal recurring themes that cause stress or conflict, which helps when grief, attachment or long-standing family problems are present.

Solution-Focused Therapy aims to identify small, practical steps that lead to change. Sessions often focus on the next useful action or a tiny shift in thinking, which can suit work pressures, anxiety or times when someone wants quick, directed help.

Finding the right mix of approaches is part of the work. The counsellor will discuss options and decide together with the client which ideas to try, based on goals and personal preferences. That collaborative process continues as priorities change.

Online sessions come by video call, phone, live chat or text messaging, offering flexibility for different lifestyles. Video calls are useful for face-to-face conversation, phone sessions work when bandwidth is limited, live chat fits quick check-ins, and messaging lets people reflect between sessions. These options help people fit therapy around work, family and travel commitments.