Alan McNeill, BACP

How Alan’s approaches translate to online therapy

Client-Centred Therapy places the person’s experience at the heart of the work. The counsellor listens without judgement, reflects what is shared and helps people make choices that fit their life. This approach helps when someone needs space to talk and to be heard.

Mindfulness Therapy teaches simple attention and breathing practices to reduce emotional overwhelm. It helps people notice thoughts and feelings without automatically reacting, which can be useful for anxiety, stress and managing strong memories.

Trauma-Focused Therapy addresses how past events continue to affect everyday life and aims to reduce their intensity. Techniques are used carefully and gradually to help people feel safer with difficult memories and to regain control over their responses.

Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will talk through goals and preferences and suggest which methods to try first, then adjust as needed. Clients and the counsellor decide together what feels most helpful over time.

Online formats offer practical flexibility. Video calls allow face-to-face work when that feels important. Phone sessions use less bandwidth and can fit into a short break. Live chat and text-based messaging are useful for brief check-ins, written reflection, or when typing feels easier than speaking. These options can make it simpler to fit therapy into a busy life and to keep continuity between sessions.