Gary Barrell, NCPS

Gary Barrell is a psychotherapeutic counsellor and hypnotherapist practising in the United Kingdom. He holds the NCPS credential and has been working in the field for six years. Gary aims to make therapy approachable and direct for people feeling overwhelmed by life changes or emotional pain. He uses an integrative approach, blending elements from client-centred work, cognitive behavioural ideas, existential thinking and psychodynamic perspectives. This means sessions focus on what matters to the client now while also looking at patterns from the past. Hypnotherapy is available as one option within that mix for those who are curious about it. Gary commonly helps people struggling with stress, anxiety and depression. He also supports those dealing with grief, relationship and intimacy concerns, low self-esteem and motivation. Practical issues such as sleeping difficulties, eating concerns, anger and career questions are part of his caseload too. Additional focus areas include autism and Asperger syndrome, communication problems, obsessions and compulsions, panic and phobic responses, and problems such as hoarding or jealousy. He also works with people coping with divorce, separation, prejudice, guilt and shame. Sessions are intended to be non-judgemental and collaborative. Gary encourages clients to identify obstacles and build on their own inner resources so they can move toward the life they want.

How therapy approaches adapt to online work

Gary often draws on client-centred principles, which focus on listening and helping people find their own answers through empathic conversation. This approach helps with feelings of low confidence, anxiety and relationship worries by putting the client's experience at the centre.

Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) looks at how thoughts, feelings and actions link together and uses practical exercises to change unhelpful patterns. It is commonly used for anxiety, panic, low mood and obsessive thoughts and often involves homework between sessions.

Existential therapy invites people to examine meaning, choice and life direction, which can help when coping with grief, major life changes or a sense of being stuck.

Finding the right mix of approaches is part of the process. The therapist will work collaboratively to decide what feels most useful, adapting methods to match goals and preferences rather than prescribing a single route.

If you are considering online work, confirm which session formats are currently offered before booking. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy week, avoid travel time and choose quieter surroundings for focused sessions. It can also support shorter check-ins or flexible scheduling to suit work or family commitments.