Mark Maxwell, BACP

Mark Maxwell is a BACP counsellor with eight years of practice based near Liverpool in the United Kingdom. He uses straightforward talking therapy to help people who feel stuck, anxious, or overwhelmed. Mark aims to create a calm space where people can say what matters to them and begin to find a clearer way forward.

Mark trained in integrated counselling, so he draws on several approaches to suit each person. That can include client-centred listening, practical cognitive behavioural ideas, and deeper psychodynamic thinking about patterns that repeat. He often looks at how pressure to meet other people’s expectations can cause anxiety and low self-esteem.

Sessions tend to focus on what the person wants to change and on practical steps to reduce distress. Conversations explore relationships, grief, stress, compassion fatigue, self-worth and common life strains such as separation or caregiving pressures. Mark also welcomes discussion of less usual concerns like kink, alternative sex culture and related identity questions.

He describes his style as empathetic and non-judgemental, offering unconditional positive regard while gently challenging unhelpful thinking. Work can include short-term solution-focused tasks or longer conversations about deeper patterns, depending on what the person prefers.

Mark accepts clients across the UK and internationally and works in English. He asks people to complete a short matching questionnaire to get started and to schedule sessions that fit their needs and routines.

Approaches and how online therapy works

Mark uses client-centred therapy to focus on a person’s own story and priorities. This approach involves empathetic listening and reflecting back what is said so people feel heard and clearer about their next steps. It can help with low self-esteem, grief and feeling overwhelmed.

He also uses cognitive behavioural therapy or CBT for practical change. CBT looks at how thoughts, feelings and actions link together and teaches small experiments and coping strategies to reduce anxiety and lift mood. It is useful for stress, worry and specific unhelpful thought patterns.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will talk with each person about their goals and preferences and together they will decide whether listening-led, CBT or a mix is best. This is a collaborative process and plans can change as progress is made.

Online sessions are offered by video call, phone, live chat or text-based messaging to suit different needs. Video lets people see and hear one another for deeper conversation, phone calls can be easier when video is not practical, and messaging works well for short check-ins or people who prefer not to use a call. These options make therapy more flexible for work, travel or busy family life and let people choose what fits their routine.