Margaret Brannigan , BACP

Margaret Brannigan is a counsellor who uses a person-centred approach to help people make sense of difficult times. She holds BACP registration and brings eleven years of experience supporting people with a wide range of concerns. Her manner is warm and respectful and she focuses on what each person wants to achieve in therapy.

Margaret helps people work through anxiety and depression in straightforward ways. She also supports those coping with trauma, grief and major life changes. Common concerns she sees include stress, parenting strain, relationship and intimacy issues, and struggles with sleep and eating.

She combines client-centred listening with practical tools from cognitive behavioural therapy and mindfulness. Sessions often include gentle exploration of thoughts and feelings, and practical steps to change unhelpful patterns. Motivational interviewing and narrative ideas are used when people want to build motivation or reframe difficult stories about themselves.

Margaret has experience across many additional areas. These include ADHD, compassion fatigue, addictions, body image and issues connected to chronic illness or caregiving. She also works with people dealing with abandonment, attachment and communication problems.

Sessions are offered for adults in English and can be arranged online by following the Start Therapy process. Margaret aims to make the first steps simple and practical so people can begin addressing concerns at a comfortable pace.

Therapeutic approaches for online counselling

Margaret draws on client-centred therapy to create a space where the person is treated as the expert in their own life. This means sessions begin by listening closely and following what matters most to the client, helping them clarify goals and priorities.

She also uses cognitive behavioural therapy to identify patterns of thinking and behaviour that can make problems worse. CBT offers straightforward exercises and experiments that can reduce anxiety, improve mood and change unhelpful habits in daily life.

Finding the right approach is part of the work together. Margaret will discuss options and try different ways of working based on a person's needs, goals and preferences. Decisions about methods are collaborative and may change as progress is made.

Online therapy gives practical flexibility. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation when a longer session or visual contact is helpful. Phone sessions work well for shorter check-ins or when bandwidth is limited. Live chat and text messaging suit people who prefer typing or want brief, on-the-day support. These formats make it easier to fit therapy around work, family life and other commitments.