Michael Dwyer , BACP

Michael Dwyer is a counsellor based in the United Kingdom with 11 years of experience. He supports people facing stress, anxiety, grief, depression and other major life changes. Michael works with adults who are navigating loss, trauma, relationship strain and issues like sleep problems or compassion fatigue.

He takes a straightforward, person-focused approach. Sessions are built around what matters most to each person. He listens, offers practical strategies and helps people try out new ways of coping that suit their daily life.

Michael uses a mix of approaches to match different needs. He draws on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Attachment-Based ideas alongside client-centred listening and some skills from Dialectical Behaviour Therapy. The aim is to combine useful techniques with space to talk things through.

People who come to him often want help with self-esteem, anger, parenting stresses, identity or relationship concerns, and complex issues such as chronic illness, caregiving strain or body image. He also works with people affected by trauma, abuse and abandonment worries.

Sessions tend to focus on clear steps you can practise between appointments. Michael explains therapeutic ideas in plain language and checks in about what is and isn’t helpful. He supports LGBT clients and those managing bereavement, cancer-related distress or multiple health problems.

How Michael’s approaches translate to online therapy

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on helping people notice difficult thoughts and feelings without getting stuck in them, and then commit to actions that reflect their values. It is often used for anxiety, depression and coping with life changes. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) looks at the links between thoughts, feelings and behaviours and offers practical exercises to change unhelpful patterns; it can help with sleep problems, anxiety and low mood. Attachment-Based Therapy pays attention to how early relationship patterns shape current reactions and can be useful for relationship difficulties, abandonment fears and issues with trust.

Finding the right approach is treated as a shared task. The therapist will explain options, try techniques in session and adjust plans based on what feels useful. The goal is to match methods to your goals, needs and preferences rather than following a rigid protocol.

Online sessions offer practical flexibility. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation and visual cues, phone sessions suit people with lower bandwidth or who prefer no camera, live chat can work for quick check-ins, and text-based messaging supports ongoing reflection between appointments. These options make it easier to fit therapy around work, caregiving and travel, and to keep continuity when circumstances change.