Dorcas Upshall, BACP

Dorcas Upshall is a counsellor with three years' experience who helps people untangle the things that make life feel hard. She focuses on your goals and works alongside you to understand what you want to change. Sessions are straightforward and goal-focused so time is used well.

Dorcas offers a calm, non-judgemental space for people dealing with stress, anxiety and depression. She also supports those facing grief, addiction, eating and body image concerns, and issues around intimacy and relationships. She is experienced in LGBT matters and compassion fatigue.

Her work draws on practical approaches to thoughts and behaviour, and on methods that look at parts of the self and personal meaning. This means sessions can include noticing patterns, trying small changes, and tracking what helps in daily life. The therapist adapts tools to each person rather than using one fixed method.

Dorcas has worked in domestic abuse services, women’s centres, pastoral care in schools, LGBTQ+ charities, and addiction and recovery settings. She is kink-aware and comfortable discussing BDSM and alternative sex culture. Her background also includes teaching and work with adult and young person special needs provisions.

People who come to Dorcas often want clear, practical steps alongside reflective conversation. She aims to help clients build emotional confidence and better manage stressors so they can move towards what matters to them.

Approaches that translate well to online therapy

Client-Centred Therapy emphasises the person's own goals and pace, with the therapist offering acceptance and careful listening to help people find their way. This approach is useful when someone wants space to talk things through and build confidence. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) focuses on spotting patterns in thoughts and behaviours and trying practical experiments to change them; it often helps with anxiety, depression and stress by giving clear, structured steps to follow. Internal Family Systems looks at different parts of a person's inner life, helping people understand conflicting feelings and develop kinder internal relationships, which can help with trauma, shame and self-criticism.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will talk with each person about what feels most useful and will adapt methods based on goals, needs and preferences. That way sessions stay relevant and collaborative rather than one-size-fits-all.

Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat and text-based messaging, offering flexibility for different situations. Video is good for a fuller conversation, phone can be easier when less bandwidth is available, short live chat or messages suit quick check-ins or days when writing feels better. These options make it easier to fit therapy around work, family and travel while still working on practical change and self-understanding.