Stephen Matthews, BACP

Stephen Matthews is a counsellor registered with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). He has three years of professional experience and supports people dealing with stress, anxiety, relationship difficulties, trauma and abuse, grief and depression. Stephen also works with concerns such as attachment and abandonment, autism and Asperger syndrome, and challenges faced by caregivers.

He volunteers at a bereavement service, bringing direct experience of supporting people through loss. That volunteer work complements his practice and informs how he helps people talk about painful events. He emphasises listening and making space for difficult feelings.

In sessions Stephen uses a person-centred approach, keeping the client’s priorities at the centre of the work. He aims to understand each person’s thoughts and feelings and to help them set goals that feel relevant and realistic. He also draws on a range of techniques and tools from other therapeutic approaches to address immediate problems and build practical coping skills.

Stephen tries to create an open, non-judgemental space where people can speak freely. He frames therapy as a collaborative journey and encourages clients to move at a pace that feels right. The goal is to leave therapy feeling more able to manage daily life, with the option to return later if needed.

Practical concerns such as communication problems, guilt and shame, men’s issues, life purpose and post-traumatic stress are within his scope. Sessions are offered in English and take place online through a mix of formats to suit different needs.

How person-centred work and practical techniques translate online

Stephen mainly uses person-centred counselling, which focuses on listening, empathy and helping the client set their own goals. This approach helps people feel heard and decide what changes matter to them. He also draws on evidence-based techniques from other therapeutic approaches to teach coping skills for anxiety, stress and trauma-related symptoms, such as grounding or breathing exercises and practical communication strategies.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. Stephen will collaborate with each person to decide which techniques suit their needs and goals. Together they review what helps and adjust methods if something is not working, so the plan evolves with the client rather than being fixed in advance.

Online sessions are offered by video call, phone, live chat and text messaging to give practical flexibility. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation and visual cues, phone sessions need less bandwidth and can fit around busy days, while live chat and messaging make shorter check-ins and written reflection easier. These options make it simpler to schedule regular sessions and to use therapy in ways that match everyday life.