- Guilt and shame
- Attachment issues
- Men's issues
About Stephen
Stephen Mclaughlin is a BACP counsellor practising in the United Kingdom with five years of private practice experience. He works with adults who are dealing with stress, anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, relationship concerns and issues linked to sexuality and identity, including LGBT matters and guilt and shame.
He focuses on the stories people tell about themselves and how those stories shape feelings and behaviour. In sessions he helps people talk through difficult thoughts and strong emotions. He aims to make sense of past experiences and how they affect day-to-day life now.
His training includes a Postgraduate Diploma and an Advanced Diploma in Transactional Analysis, and a qualification in Person Centred Counselling Skills. Those influences show up in sessions as attention to patterns of relating and to what a person needs in the moment.
People might come with panic attacks, trouble expressing feelings, low mood, or recurring shame about something they did or didn’t do. He also works with issues such as abandonment, attachment difficulties, autism and Asperger syndrome, impulsivity and men’s issues.
Sessions aim to be direct and conversational. He listens for the repeating stories and offers ways to try something different. Work may include looking at relationship dynamics, naming painful feelings, and testing new ways of responding.
Stephen uses a practical approach that connects past experience to present reactions. He supports people to notice patterns, name emotions, and practice small changes between sessions.
Therapeutic approaches and working online
Transactional Analysis looks at repeated patterns in how people relate to others and to themselves. It can help identify recurring roles and scripts that feed guilt or shame, and suggest alternative responses to try in everyday life.Person Centred counselling skills focus on listening closely and following what matters to the client in the moment. This approach helps people name feelings, including painful shame, and practise expressing those feelings in a clearer way.
Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will discuss which ways of working suit a person’s needs, preferences and goals. This is a collaborative process and may change as issues become clearer.
The biography does not list specific online session formats. Before booking, confirm which formats are offered. Online work can make it easier to fit sessions into a week, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and reduce the time spent travelling. It also makes it possible to continue regularly when geography or schedules change, while keeping the focus on practical steps to address guilt, shame and related concerns.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Additional focus areas
Experience
5+ years
Listed in
United Kingdom
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of guilt and shame does he address?
He works with shame or guilt connected to relationships, past events, family and identity concerns, including LGBT-related issues.
How does he approach feelings like guilt and shame in sessions?
He listens for the stories someone tells about themselves and helps name painful feelings. Sessions involve talking through those stories and trying different responses.
What is his background and experience?
He has five years in private practice and holds a Postgraduate Diploma and an Advanced Diploma in Transactional Analysis plus a qualification in Person Centred Counselling Skills.
What professional credential does he hold and where does he practise?
He is registered with the BACP and practices in the United Kingdom.
Does he offer sessions in other languages?
Sessions are offered in English.
What session formats are available?
The original biography does not specify session formats. Please confirm current session options before booking.
How much do sessions cost?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be cancelled at any time.
How do I begin if I want to work with him?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger or thinking about harming yourself, use the crisis numbers.