About Shea
Shea McCartney is a counsellor based in the United Kingdom. He trained at postgraduate level and holds an MSc in Counselling and Therapeutic Communication with Professional Practice. He works from a person-centred, trauma-informed stance and aims to make starting therapy as straightforward as possible.
He believes the relationship between counsellor and client matters most. Shea focuses on listening first so people feel heard, accepted and understood without judgement. He welcomes a wide range of feelings - anger, confusion, numbness or sadness - and aims to make space for them.
How Shea works
Shea adapts his approach to each person. He draws on different methods, including client-centred work, cognitive behavioural ideas, psychodynamic thinking, solution-focused tools and trauma-focused approaches. He chooses what might help most for the issue in front of him rather than sticking to one fixed model.
His background includes work in NHS mental health services, child protection, trauma support and suicide intervention organisations. Over four years he has supported people facing anxiety, depression, grief, relationship problems, domestic abuse, self-harm and other serious challenges. Sessions do not always stay heavy.
Shea emphasises warmth, authenticity and sometimes gentle humour where it helps the work. He sees counselling as collaborative - not telling people what to do but helping them notice patterns and find practical ways forward. If someone wants short-term help for a single issue or longer-term therapy, Shea works at a pace that feels right for the person.
He aims to support people as they work through difficult experiences and build more manageable day-to-day coping.
Shea lists 5 ways of working on the entry:
What Shea works with
The areas below are the ones Shea selected when setting up a profile. The first few are listed as the main focus; the rest are also named.
Also listed
- Abandonment
- Anger management
- BDSM, kink, and alternative sex culture
- Blended family issues
- Career difficulties
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Chronic pain, illness, and disability
- Codependency
- Commitment issues
- Communication problems
- Compassion fatigue
- Coping with life changes
- Depression
- Divorce and separation
- Domestic violence
- Emptiness
- Family conflicts
- Family problems
- First responder issues
- Forgiveness
- Guilt and shame
- Immigration issues
- Infidelity
- Intimacy-related issues
- Isolation / loneliness
- Jealousy
- LGBT
- Life purpose
- Men's issues
- Midlife crisis
- Multicultural concerns
- Panic disorder and panic attacks
- Parenting issues
- Polyamory / non-monogamous relationships
- Prejudice and discrimination
- Relationship issues
- Self esteem
- Self-harm
- Self-love
- Sexual assault and abuse
- Sexuality
- Sleeping disorders
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Women's issues
- Workplace issues
- Young adult issues
Training and background
| Registers | BACP, NCPS |
|---|---|
| Years in practice | 4 |
| Languages | English |
| Session format | Online: video, phone, live chat or messaging |
| Country | United Kingdom |
Memberships and registers are shown as supplied; they are not licences, and this directory does not verify them.
Online support options
Approaches in online counselling and how they help
Client-Centred Therapy focuses on listening and acceptance. The counsellor offers empathy and reflection so people feel understood, which can help with low self-esteem, relationship issues and general distress.Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) looks at patterns of thoughts and behaviours and teaches practical techniques to change them. It is often useful for anxiety, depression and sleep problems because it gives clear steps to try between sessions.
Trauma-Focused Therapy pays attention to how past distressing events affect day-to-day life and emotional responses. It works on building safety, understanding triggers and developing ways to reduce reactivity for people affected by trauma or abuse.
Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will discuss goals, preferences and practical needs and then recommend methods together. This is a collaborative process so plans can change as the relationship and understanding grow.
Confirm which session formats are offered before booking, as the biography does not detail specific formats. Online counselling can make it easier to fit sessions into busy lives, for example by saving travel time, allowing shorter check-ins or avoiding the need to be on camera. Registered or accredited professionals can use these options to help people access consistent support that fits daily routines.
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Common questions
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A practical next step
Write down two things you would want to be different in six months. That is the most useful thing to bring to a first session, whoever it is with. If you would rather start now than keep reading, online sessions are the quickest route.
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