Shea McCartney, BACP, NCPS

BACP Therapist (MBACP), NCPS Therapist (MNCPS Accred) with four years' experience, Shea McCartney works with people facing stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, grief, low self-esteem and depression. He also supports those dealing with relationship and family difficulties, intimacy-related concerns, sleeping problems, parenting strain, anger, career changes and compassion fatigue.

Shea uses a person-centred, trauma-informed way of working and draws on a range of evidence-based approaches. Sessions focus on listening first, then using techniques from therapies such as cognitive behavioural work or psychodynamic thinking where useful. He aims to help clients feel heard and to clarify what they want to change.

Prior roles include work in NHS mental health services, child protection, trauma support and suicide intervention organisations. That background means he has experience with bereavement, domestic abuse, self-harm and suicidal thoughts, alongside more common concerns like anxiety and depression.

Shea describes therapy as collaborative. He does not tell people what to do. Instead he helps them name their difficulties, identify patterns and try practical steps that fit their life. Sessions can be short-term problem solving or longer-term exploration depending on the client’s needs.

He holds an MSc in Counselling and Therapeutic Communication with Professional Practice and a BSc in Sociology with Psychology. He also has specialist training in trauma-informed counselling for children and young people and continues professional development to keep his practice current.

Sessions are conducted in English and international clients are not accepted. People interested in starting are asked to use the site’s matching process to book a first session.

How his approaches inform online work