Marcus Pugh, BACP

Marcus Pugh helps people who are feeling overwhelmed by stress, anxiety, depression or addiction. He works with those struggling with relationship strain, trauma and abuse, grief, low self-esteem, and difficulties around intimacy. Marcus offers a calm, non-judgemental space for people to talk things through and make sense of what they are facing.

Marcus is a counsellor with 12 years of professional experience and holds BACP registration, the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy accreditation. He sees therapy as a collaborative process where the client is the expert on their own life. He often begins by listening to understand what matters most to the person in front of him.

In sessions Marcus combines straightforward conversation with practical techniques. He uses client-centred ways of working to follow the client's lead. He also draws on cognitive behavioural tools to spot patterns of thinking that get in the way. Mindfulness exercises are introduced when they help reduce anxiety and improve focus.

Marcus will offer alternative perspectives or gentle suggestions when useful, but his priority is helping people find their own meaning and solutions. He supports practical coping strategies for sleep, eating, anger and addictive behaviours, and helps with career and life changes.

People who choose Marcus can expect short, clear conversations and an emphasis on strengths. He accepts international clients and runs sessions in English, tailoring the pace and approach to each person's needs.

Approaches that translate well to online therapy

Marcus combines client-centred work with cognitive behavioural techniques and mindfulness practices. Client-centred therapy focuses on listening and following the client's lead, creating space for people to talk through what matters to them and discover their own answers. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) helps identify unhelpful thinking and behaviour patterns and teaches concrete skills to change them, which can be practised between sessions. Mindfulness therapy introduces short exercises in attention and breathing to reduce anxiety and improve day-to-day regulation.

Choosing the right approach is part of the work. Marcus treats the first few sessions as a chance to understand goals and preferences, and will collaborate with the client to blend methods that feel helpful. He may offer suggestions or exercises and checks in to adapt the plan as progress is made.

Online sessions offer flexible ways to get support. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation and visual cues, phone sessions can be easier when bandwidth is limited or for quick check-ins, and live chat or text messaging suit shorter updates or people who prefer writing. These options help people fit therapy around work, travel or family life while keeping the focus on practical progress.