Brian Thompson, BACP

Brian Thompson works from a client-centred approach that focuses on each person as an individual. He aims to listen fully and help people find their own understanding of what they are going through. Sessions are grounded in a calm, respectful way of being together rather than a fixed formula. He has five years of practice and has supported people with bereavement and complex grief. He also helps those affected by past trauma, abusive relationships, depression and anxiety. He pays attention to loneliness, low self-worth and the impact of loss. Brian makes space for people to talk about relationship difficulties and family concerns. He also addresses stress, anger, eating issues and career-related worries. He works with people across LGBT matters and parenting stresses when those topics come up in individual sessions. His style is collaborative - he checks in regularly to make sure therapy is meeting the person’s needs. The early meetings focus on what someone hopes to gain and how sessions will fit into their life. He aims to build a trusting professional relationship that helps people move forward at their own pace. To begin, a short matching questionnaire is completed and a first appointment is arranged. After that, session rhythm and goals are reviewed together so the work stays relevant and responsive to change.

How client-centred work translates to online therapy

Client-Centred Therapy is about the person’s experience being heard and valued. The counsellor listens with empathy and helps people find their own understanding of what they are facing. This approach suits issues like grief, trauma, depression and relationship concerns where being understood matters as much as techniques. The therapist uses collaborative checking-in as part of the process. Early sessions focus on goals and what a person needs from counselling, and these are reviewed regularly together. The counsellor will discuss which ways of working feel most helpful and adapt the approach to the person's preferences. Online sessions can be arranged as video calls, phone sessions, live chat or text-based messaging. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation when visual cues matter. Phone sessions need less bandwidth and can fit into a lunch break or busy day. Live chat and text messaging work well for shorter check-ins, gradual sharing, or when someone prefers typing to speaking. Using these formats makes counselling more flexible and easier to fit around life commitments. The therapist and client choose the mix of formats that best supports the work and adjust it as needs change.