John Courtney

John Courtney is a counsellor who helps people facing stress, anxiety, anger and related problems. He works with concerns such as trauma and abuse, grief, relationship and family strain, parenting stresses, career worries, low self-esteem and general life changes. He aims to build an empathic, authentic and non-judgemental connection to make it easier to talk about what is hard.

He trained as an integrative practitioner and blends psychodynamic ideas with humanistic, client-centred ways of working. This means conversations look at past patterns alongside present needs. The relationship in the room is used as a base to try out new ways of being and feeling.

Sessions start by looking at what is bothering you and where those feelings might come from. John uses a mix of shorter, practical problem-solving ideas and deeper reflective work, depending on what a person needs. He aims for clear, manageable steps toward change rather than jargon or complex models.

John has four years of experience and holds BACP registration, which is shown as BACP. He has personal experience of having been in therapy, so he says he understands how hard the first step can feel. He describes working at a pace that suits each person and walking alongside them through the process.

If someone is unsure what to expect, he encourages a simple first conversation to see if they feel comfortable. He supports people who do not yet know why they feel uneasy as well as those with clearer problems to solve.

How John’s approaches translate to online work

Attachment-based work focuses on how early relationships shape current emotions and expectations. Online sessions can use the therapeutic relationship to notice how you connect and to try new ways of relating to feelings and others.

Client-centred therapy concentrates on empathetic listening and supporting your own pace and choices. In an online setting this means conversations that follow what feels most important to you, with the counsellor reflecting back what they hear to help you find clarity.

Finding the right approach is a collaborative task. The therapist will discuss what feels useful, try out techniques, and adjust the balance of reflective and practical work as you go. You and the counsellor decide together which methods to emphasise based on your goals and preferences.

Please confirm which session formats are offered before booking because the biography did not specify them. Many people find online options help fit therapy into busy lives - they can save travel time, allow shorter check-ins between commitments, and make it easier to schedule around work or family demands. Online sessions can also let a person choose whether they want more reflective depth or shorter solution-focused work depending on what suits their day.