Peter Plaistowe, BACP

Peter Plaistowe is a counsellor who focuses on building a compassionate, respectful relationship first. He creates a calm space where people can talk about what they are feeling and thinking. Peter aims to make it easier to reflect on the past so people can make changes that matter now.

He has been working since 2017 and brings eight years of practice to common concerns such as depression and anxiety. He also helps with low self-esteem, motivation problems, grief and bereavement. He has particular experience supporting people bereaved through substance misuse.

Peter offers both short-term and longer-term work. Shorter work can help with a sudden life event, while longer work allows deeper understanding and change. He explains options clearly so people can choose what fits their situation.

He describes himself as an integrative counsellor. That means he draws on several approaches and uses the parts that seem most helpful for each person. He commonly uses person-centred ideas, psychodynamic thinking, cognitive behavioural techniques and transactional analysis.

Before starting, Peter offers a 20-minute free phone call to discuss needs and next steps. He works in English from the United Kingdom and follows the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) framework.

How evidence-based approaches can work online

Peter draws on several well-known approaches and uses the parts that fit each person. Person-centred work focuses on listening and reflecting so someone feels heard and understood; it helps when people need a calm space to talk through difficult feelings. Cognitive behavioural techniques look at how thoughts and behaviours interact and offer practical ways to test and change unhelpful patterns, which can help with anxiety, low mood and motivation. Psychodynamic ideas pay attention to past experiences and patterns that repeat in current life to increase self-understanding and long-term change.

Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will discuss goals and try different methods to see what helps most, checking in and adjusting the work as needed so therapy stays practical and relevant.

If you are considering online therapy, confirm the session options before booking since specific formats are not listed here. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy week, reduce travel time and allow shorter check-ins when needed. It also lets people join from different locations within the United Kingdom and can support consistent work during life changes. Registered or accredited professionals aim to adapt tools and exercises so they work well in remote sessions.