Alan McNeill, BACP

Alan McNeill is a counsellor based in the United Kingdom with 24 years of experience. He works with people who feel overwhelmed by anxiety, stress, grief or low self-esteem. He also supports clients dealing with trauma, LGBT issues and relationship patterns such as jealousy. Alan’s approach is practical and straightforward. He treats the client as the expert in their own life and helps them find strengths they already have. Sessions often look at how childhood experiences continue to influence adult feelings and choices. He blends a client-centred style with mindfulness practices to help people manage feelings in the moment. Trauma-focused work is used when past events keep causing distress today. The aim is to reduce the hold of old patterns so clients can function more easily day to day. Alan has worked in the NHS, in independent practice and with organisations such as LGBT Health, Gay men’s Health, hospice services and Chai Cancer Care. This range of settings has informed a flexible way of working with different life stresses and losses. Starting therapy with Alan involves looking at immediate concerns and then building ways to cope that fit everyday life. He supports people through grief, caregiver strain, issues connected to illness, feelings of emptiness, and problems around trust and commitment.

How his approaches translate to online therapy

Client-Centred Therapy focuses on listening and reflecting what the client says. It helps people feel heard and understand their own choices better, which can be useful for anxiety and self-esteem issues. Mindfulness Therapy teaches simple techniques to notice thoughts and feelings without reacting. These practices can reduce overwhelm and make daily life feel more manageable for those coping with stress or grief. Trauma-Focused Therapy addresses the impact of past events on current life. It aims to help people process difficult memories so they have less influence over present behaviour and relationships. Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will work with the client to test what feels helpful and adjust methods based on needs and preferences. That collaborative process makes it easier to focus on practical steps that fit the client’s goals. Session logistics should be confirmed before booking, as the biography does not list specific online formats. Ask about the available session types when arranging an appointment. Online work can help fit therapy into a busy life, reduce travel time, allow a shorter check-in when needed, and make it easier to keep appointments around work or family commitments.