Martin Read, BACP

Martin Read helps people facing stress, anxiety, anger, low self-esteem and depression. He works with those wrestling with panic, obsessive thoughts, relationship jealousy, and questions about life purpose and self-love. He also supports people dealing with avoidant personality traits, caregiver strain, dissociation, guilt, shame and impulsivity.

Martin uses a Person Centred Therapy approach that treats the client as the expert on their own life. He offers a calm, non-judgemental space and listens closely to each person’s experience. He aims to help people identify what matters to them and move towards a life aligned with those values.

Over four years of work in the United Kingdom inform his practice, and he is a member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy. He blends Person Centred Therapy with elements of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, inner child work and mindfulness where that fits a person’s needs.

Sessions focus on understanding feelings and finding practical ways to apply personal values. Martin encourages honest feedback if the relationship does not feel right, and will support a person in finding another counsellor if that is best. His approach is steady, respectful and shaped by the individual’s goals.

To start, people complete a short matching questionnaire and then schedule sessions according to his availability. He aims to respond to contacts within 24 hours on weekdays and works professionally to maintain an ethical practice.

How Person Centred work comes alive online

Person Centred Therapy places the person's experience at the centre. The counsellor listens without judgement and supports someone to make sense of their own feelings and choices. This approach suits people wanting to explore values, identity and emotional experience without being told what to do.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, which he sometimes uses alongside Person Centred work, focuses on noticing difficult thoughts and choosing actions that match personal values. Mindfulness techniques are used to build awareness of thoughts and sensations and can help with anxiety and panic symptoms.

Finding the right approach is part of the process. The counsellor will work with the person to decide which methods fit best, based on their goals, preferences and what comes up in sessions. This is a collaborative journey rather than a fixed plan.

Session formats are not listed here, so please confirm current options before booking. Online counselling can make it easier to fit sessions around work, caregiving or study, and it can reduce travel time. It also allows people to choose quieter surroundings, shorter check-ins or camera-off conversations when that helps them engage.