Martin Read, BACP

Martin Read welcomes people struggling with stress, anxiety, anger, low self-esteem and depression. He also supports those dealing with panic attacks, obsessive thoughts, guilt, shame and questions about life purpose. Martin presents himself as calm and approachable and aims to offer a space where people can say what they find difficult without judgement.

Martin trained and works in the United Kingdom and holds BACP, which indicates he is registered with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy. He has four years of professional experience supporting people through emotional distress and everyday worries. His work is straightforward and practical, focused on helping people notice unhelpful patterns and try different ways of responding.

His main way of working is Client-Centred Therapy. That means he follows the person rather than telling them what to do, and he uses listening, reflection and gentle questioning to help clients make sense of their feelings. He often brings in ideas from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Inner Child work and mindfulness to suit each person’s needs.

In sessions he pays attention to thoughts and everyday habits and how these shape mood and behaviour. He encourages people to identify values and small steps that move them towards the life they want. Martin also supports caregivers facing stress and people who experience dissociation or impulsivity.

Martin aims to be clear about the working relationship. If someone feels the match is not right after a few sessions, he will help them express that and assist in finding another counsellor if needed.

How client-centred work translates to online therapy

Client-Centred Therapy focuses on listening, understanding and reflecting the client’s experience. The counsellor follows what matters most to the person, helping them name feelings and make sense of thoughts and habits. This approach suits worries such as anxiety, low mood and stress because it helps people feel heard and become clearer about what they value.

Martin also draws on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, which encourages noticing unhelpful thoughts and choosing actions that match personal values. He may use brief mindfulness exercises to ground someone in the moment and Inner Child ideas to look at earlier emotional patterns that still affect daily life.

Finding the right way of working is part of the process. The counsellor will discuss preferences and goals, and together they will decide which ideas to try and how to adapt them. This collaborative approach means methods can change as the work develops to fit what the person needs.

Session formats are not specified here, so confirm current options before booking. Online sessions can make it easier to fit counselling around work, childcare or travel. They also allow for a quicker check-in on busier days and can reduce the time needed to attend, helping therapy sit alongside everyday life rather than disrupting it.