About Hal
Hal Thompson welcomes people who are feeling overwhelmed by stress, anxiety, addiction, trauma or low self-esteem. He writes in a calm, straightforward way and aims to make first steps less daunting for those seeking help. He uses a psychodynamic approach to look at how past experiences and coping habits shape life now.
That means paying attention to patterns that often happen outside conscious awareness, and gently naming them so they become easier to change.
How Hal works
Hal holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Sussex and a Master’s degree in psychodynamic counselling and psychotherapy from Birkbeck, University of London. He is a member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, BACP.
Before specialising in therapy he worked in arts and education and spent many years in wider mental health roles in public and personal settings. That background informs a practical, down-to-earth style in sessions. Sessions are collaborative and paced to each person.
Hal combines psychodynamic work with elements from other evidence-based techniques when they fit the client’s needs. The aim is greater self-understanding, fewer unhelpful patterns, and more choice about how to live.
People who turn to him often want help with attachment concerns, dissociation, drug and alcohol addiction, guilt and shame, men’s issues, narcissism, obsessive or compulsive behaviours, panic, post-traumatic stress, prejudice-related distress, self-harm, self-love, and social anxiety.
What Hal works with
The areas below are the ones Hal selected when setting up a profile. The first few are listed as the main focus; the rest are also named.
Also listed
Training and background
| Register | BACP |
|---|---|
| Years in practice | 3 |
| Languages | English |
| Session format | Online: video, phone, live chat or messaging |
| Country | United Kingdom |
Memberships and registers are shown as supplied; they are not licences, and this directory does not verify them.
Online support options
How psychodynamic work and practical techniques translate online
Psychodynamic work focuses on patterns that repeat in a person's life and the past experiences that shape them. Online sessions give space to notice those patterns through regular conversation, reflection and gentle exploration of feelings and relationships.Behavioural and cognitive techniques are practical tools that can sit alongside psychodynamic therapy. These approaches break down unhelpful thoughts or actions into small steps, and can help with panic, obsessive behaviours, social anxiety and cravings related to addiction.
Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will work with the client to choose methods that match goals, needs and preferences. That might mean staying mainly psychodynamic, or adding short-term exercises and coping strategies when useful.
Online therapy offers flexibility and makes it easier to fit sessions into busy lives. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation when visual cues help. Phone sessions can be useful when bandwidth is limited or a quieter check-in is needed. Live chat and text messaging are suited to brief updates, reflection between sessions, or people who prefer writing over speaking.
Many registered or accredited professionals use these formats to make counselling more accessible while keeping the therapeutic work focused and practical.
Start online instead of waiting
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Common questions
What concerns does he help with?
What is his therapeutic style like?
What experience does he have?
Where is he based and what credential does he hold?
Can I work with him if I live outside the UK?
Which session formats are available?
How much do sessions cost?
How do I begin working with him?
A practical next step
Write down two things you would want to be different in six months. That is the most useful thing to bring to a first session, whoever it is with. If you would rather start now than keep reading, online sessions are the quickest route.
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