Michael Johansen, BACP

Michael Johansen helps people dealing with stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, low self-esteem and depression. He supports those coping with life changes, grief, relationship and intimacy concerns, parenting and career strain. He also works with people facing anger, compassion fatigue and ADHD-related struggles.

Michael practises in a person-centred way that keeps the client's experience at the heart of sessions. He listens without judgement and helps people make sense of what they're feeling. He draws on psychodynamic thinking to look at patterns from the past that still affect the present.

Trauma-focused work is part of his approach when people carry distress from painful experiences. Sessions aim to help the person feel steadier and more able to manage difficult memories or reactions. Michael describes the pace as collaborative and adaptable to what each person needs.

He has seven years of professional experience and is registered with the BACP, the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy. His practice is based in the United Kingdom and he offers sessions in English.

People can expect practical conversation and reflective work. Michael helps name problems, try new ways of coping, and make small changes that build over time. He invites questions and discussion about how therapy will work for each individual.

To begin, he asks people to think about what they want to address and to discuss any concerns during an initial booking conversation. Sessions are paced to fit the person's needs and priorities.

How therapeutic approaches translate to online work

Client-Centred Therapy focuses on listening without judgement and following the person's lead in conversation. Online sessions using this approach let the counsellor respond to what matters most to the person and prioritise their concerns in each meeting.

Psychodynamic Therapy looks at recurring patterns and how past experiences shape present behaviour. In remote sessions this can involve reflective discussion about relationships and memories to spot repeated themes and try new ways of responding.

Trauma-Focused Therapy addresses distress linked to painful events by building coping skills and gradually working with difficult memories. Over video or phone this often means pacing the work to match how much someone can manage and choosing techniques that feel safe for them.

Choosing the right approach is part of the process. The therapist will work collaboratively to decide what fits a person's needs, goals and preferences. That may mean trying one way of working and adapting it as progress is made.

Online formats offer practical benefits. Video calls approximate face-to-face conversation and allow non-verbal cues to be seen. Phone sessions can be easier when bandwidth is limited or when someone prefers not to be on camera. Live chat and text-based messaging suit shorter check-ins or people who find typing easier than speaking. These options make therapy more flexible and easier to fit around work and family life.