Michael Johansen, BACP

Michael Johansen supports people dealing with stress, anxiety, depression and grief. He also helps people facing relationship strain, parenting challenges, anger and work-related pressure. Michael’s first paragraph gives a clear sense of the issues he commonly sees and the straightforward tone he uses in sessions.

He works in a person-centred way, which means he listens closely and follows what matters most to the client. That approach keeps the focus on a person’s experience, not on labels. He also draws on psychodynamic ideas to look at patterns that repeat over time, and on trauma-focused methods when past harm affects day-to-day life.

Michael has seven years of professional experience and is registered with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, described as BACP. He aims to build an honest, non-judgemental space where people can speak openly about difficult feelings.

Sessions are designed to be practical. People talk through what’s happening now, try out new ways of coping, and reflect on longer-term patterns that might be holding them back. The tone of therapy is steady and respectful rather than directive.

For someone unsure where to start, Michael encourages a short initial conversation to see if the working style fits. He asks questions about what the person hopes to change and works collaboratively to set simple, realistic goals.

How these approaches translate to online work

Client-Centred Therapy focuses on listening, acceptance and following the person's agenda; online sessions using this approach still centre on what the client wants to talk about and on building a trusting conversation. Psychodynamic Therapy looks at repeated patterns and how past relationships influence current feelings; when done online it gives space to reflect on recurring themes and life history in manageable steps. Trauma-Focused Therapy concentrates on the impact of past harm and helps people process traumatic experiences in ways suited to their pace and resilience.

Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will talk with the client about goals, preferences and how they respond in early sessions, then agree on what feels most useful. Adjustments can be made as therapy progresses so the approach stays aligned with changing needs.

The biography does not specify which session formats are offered, so please confirm current options before booking. Online counselling can make it easier to fit sessions around work, childcare and travel by removing commute time and offering more flexible scheduling. It also allows for shorter check-ins or audio-only conversations when that better suits a person's day. Registered or accredited professionals can adapt exercises and pacing to work well in remote appointments.