Justin Dowdall, BACP

Justin Dowdall offers direct, practical help for people feeling overwhelmed by stress, anxiety, low self-esteem or big life changes. He is a counsellor with BACP accreditation and 11 years' experience. He works in plain language and aims to make sessions feel straightforward and useful from the first meeting.

Clients can expect a collaborative approach that focuses on what matters to them. Sessions look at current difficulties such as relationships, intimacy, parenting pressures, career strain, anger or feelings of emptiness. Justin also supports people managing mood conditions like depression and bipolar, and those dealing with ADHD, compassion fatigue or midlife questions.

His way of working blends practical thinking tools with attention to emotions and present-moment awareness. He uses cognitive techniques to examine thought patterns and how they influence behaviour. He also draws on emotionally-focused ideas to clarify how feelings are experienced and expressed, plus mindfulness practices to reduce reactivity and build calm.

Sessions are shaped around each person's goals and preferences. Justin aims for clear steps you can use between meetings, not only conversation. He pays attention to communication patterns, attachment and issues such as abandonment, codependency, control, and forgiveness when they are relevant.

People who come for help often want better coping skills and clearer direction. Justin helps people move from stuckness to practical change, working at a pace that suits them. If someone is ready to start, he guides them through the next steps to begin therapy.

How Justin uses therapy approaches online

Justin combines cognitive work and emotionally-focused methods in a way that transfers well to remote sessions. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) looks at unhelpful thought patterns and teaches practical skills to change behaviour; it helps with anxiety, low mood and stress by giving clear tools to try between sessions. Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT) helps people recognise and name their feelings and understand how emotions shape relationships and personal reactions; it can be useful for intimacy, communication and unresolved emotional pain.

Choosing the right approach is part of the process. Justin collaborates with each person to decide which methods match their goals and preferences. He reviews progress as therapy continues and adjusts the mix of techniques to fit what is helping most.

Online work can be very flexible. Video calls allow a face-to-face conversation when that matters. Phone sessions suit those who need less bandwidth or a voice-only check-in. Live chat and text-based messaging are useful for shorter updates, coaching-style support or when written reflection feels easier. These options make it simpler to fit therapy around work, parenting and travel while keeping the therapeutic focus intact.