Michael Halpin, BACP

Michael Halpin specialises in helping people facing stress, anxiety and low self-esteem. He works with individuals dealing with depression, relationship struggles, addiction and grief. He also supports people coping with ADHD, changes in life circumstances and issues around intimacy and sleeping. Michael takes a respectful and down-to-earth approach in sessions. He listens first, then shapes a plan around what matters to the client. Conversations are tailored to each person's needs and pace. He aims to make therapy straightforward and practical. His practice draws on several ways of working. Attachment-based ideas help when past relationships affect current ones. Cognitive behavioural techniques look at thinking and behaviour patterns that keep problems going. Psychodynamic themes may be used to understand repeated emotional patterns. Michael has four years of professional experience and holds BACP accreditation. He works with a broad range of life issues, including parenting strains, body image, autism and attachment concerns. He also offers support for workplace stress, career uncertainty and coping with chronic illness. Sessions focus on clear goals and small steps forward. Some people use solution-focused work to make quick changes, while others prefer a slower exploration of feelings. Michael aims to match the approach to what each person needs and wants in therapy.

How his approaches translate to online therapy

Attachment-based work focuses on how early relationships shape current feelings and trust. Online sessions using this approach can help people understand patterns in their close relationships and practise new ways of connecting. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, or CBT, looks at the links between thoughts, feelings and actions and teaches practical skills. It suits issues like anxiety, low mood, sleeping problems and unhelpful routines.

Choosing the right approach is part of the process. Michael will talk through your goals and preferences and suggest a plan together. The decision is collaborative and can change as therapy progresses to match what helps most.

Online sessions are offered by video call, phone, live chat or text messaging to make therapy more flexible. Video calls allow face-to-face discussion, phone sessions can fit into a short break, live chat works for quicker check-ins and messaging is useful for ongoing reflection. These options make it easier to fit therapy around work, family and daily life while keeping the focus on practical progress and understanding.