Andrew Mclay, BACP

Andrew Mclay is a counsellor with five years' experience helping people through grief, loss and major life changes. He works with people who feel unmoored after relationship endings, health changes, shifts in identity, or the slow erosion that comes with addiction or mental health struggles. His approach is calm and down-to-earth. He offers a steady space to talk and to make sense of difficult feelings.

Andrew keeps sessions simple and person-focused. He listens first and follows what matters most to the individual. He does not push people to hurry through their feelings. Instead he helps clients notice what they are feeling and what they might want to try next.

He draws on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Client-Centred Therapy, and trauma-focused work to guide conversations. These methods are used flexibly to fit each person's situation rather than as rigid rules. The emphasis is on small, practical steps that can reduce overwhelm and support clearer choices.

Common reasons people come to him include anxiety, depression, relationship problems, stress, grief, addiction and issues around self-esteem or body image. He also supports people coping with caregiver strain, cancer-related concerns, and life changes like separation or career transition.

Sessions are offered in English and Andrew accepts clients in the United Kingdom and internationally. He holds registration with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, listed as BACP. To begin, people complete a short matching questionnaire and then schedule sessions according to availability.

How Andrew uses different approaches in online therapy

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, often called ACT, focuses on noticing thoughts and feelings rather than fighting them, and then choosing actions that match personal values. It can help with anxiety, depression, guilt and the uncertainty that comes with big life changes.

Client-Centred Therapy puts the person's experience at the heart of sessions. The counsellor offers non-judgemental listening and reflection to help people make sense of their feelings and decide what matters next. This approach suits those who need a steady space to process emotions.

Trauma-focused work is used when past events continue to affect daily life. It involves careful, paced discussion of what happened and strategies to reduce overwhelming reactions and regain a sense of safety in day-to-day life.

Finding the right approach is part of the work together. The therapist will discuss options and adapt methods to fit the person's goals, needs and preferences. Decisions are made collaboratively and may change over time as progress is reviewed.

Online therapy offers flexible ways to meet. Video calls let people use visual cues and a full conversation. Phone sessions need less bandwidth and suit a quieter check-in. Live chat or text messaging can work for short check-ins or when writing feels easier. These options make it simpler to fit therapy around work, travel or caring responsibilities.