Shea McCartney, BACP, NCPS

Shea McCartney is a counsellor with an MSc in Counselling and Therapeutic Communication with Professional Practice and four years of experience. He works from a person-centred, trauma-informed stance and aims to make reaching out feel less daunting. He wants people to feel heard and accepted from the first session.

Shea tailors his approach to each person rather than using a single method for everyone. He draws on a range of evidence-based ways of working, including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, psychodynamic ideas and solution-focused techniques when they suit the situation. The focus is on practical change as well as making sense of past experiences.

Clients can expect a warm and curious atmosphere in sessions. Shea prioritises listening without judgement and aims to build a helpful relationship before using any specific tools. He also values honesty and moments of lightness where they help the work progress.

His background includes roles in NHS mental health services, child protection, trauma work and suicide intervention organisations. That experience shaped how he supports people affected by anxiety, depression, trauma, bereavement, domestic abuse and major life changes.

Shea offers collaborative counselling for short-term problems and longer-term work. He will work at a pace that feels right and help people identify practical next steps for coping, healing and moving forward.

Therapeutic approaches and how they work online

Shea commonly uses client-centred work and trauma-focused ideas alongside Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. Client-centred therapy means sessions focus on the person’s experience and priorities, with the counsellor listening closely and reflecting back what matters most. Trauma-focused approaches attend directly to difficult past events and their effects, helping people process memories and reduce symptoms over time. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, or CBT, looks at patterns of thought and behaviour and teaches practical strategies to manage anxiety, low mood and sleeping problems.

Choosing the right approach is part of the work together. Shea will discuss goals, preferences and what feels most useful, then try methods that match those aims. That collaborative process lets the person and counsellor adjust the focus as progress is made.

Please confirm which online session formats are offered before booking as the biography does not spell out formats. In general, online counselling can make it easier to fit sessions into busy schedules, allow shorter check-ins when helpful, or avoid travel time. Registered or accredited professionals can use different methods to suit people’s needs, and Shea will help find a way of working that fits everyday life.