Stephen McLaughlin

Therapist Directory Listing Category: Online Therapy

About the Therapist

About the therapist:

About Me

Hi. I’m Stephen. I am a Psychotherapeutic Counsellor trained in Transactional Analysis and a Registered Member of BACP (MBACP) with extensive experience supporting the LGBTQIA+ and neurodivergent communities. As a gay man with neurodiversity in my close family, I understand how reassuring it can be to work with a practitioner who shares lived experiences in these areas.

In my practice, I offer a confidential, non-judgmental space where you can explore your most difficult thoughts and feelings safely. I am particularly interested in the stories that we tell ourselves, and how they help or hinder us as we navigate through life. I will work with you to understand your story so you can create meaningful change in your life, in your relationships with others, and in your relationship with yourself.

Practicalities

I am available for online and telephone appointments.

If you are looking for in person therapy please see my separate listing.

I offer a free initial telephone consultation. This is a chat of around 20 minutes to get a sense of what you are looking for from therapy, to answer any questions you might have, and, if we agree to, to book in a first appointment.

Sexual identity:

Gay
Other
Queer

Gender identity: I use another term

Gender history: Prefer not to say

Intersex: No

Neurodivergent: No

Personal pronouns: He/Him/His

Qualifications - Links to websites:

I hold a Post Graduate Diploma & Advanced Diploma in Transactional Analysis, as well as qualifications in Person-Centred Counselling Skills & Solution-Focused Therapy which I integrate into my practice.

Qualifications - Additional:

Award	Awarding body	Year of award
Advanced Postgraduate Diploma in Transactional Analysis Psychotherapy	Red Kite Training	2020
Postgraduate Diploma in Psychotherapeutic Counselling (Transactional Analysis)	Red Kite Training	2019
Certificate in Counselling Skills - Person Centred Counselling (Level 3)	ABC Awards	2020
Solution Focused Therapy (Level 2)	APT Accreditation	2025

Experience and approach:

My Approach & Background

My approach is both queer-affirming and neuro-affirming, and I keep kindness and compassion at the heart of my work.

Prior to entering private practice in 2019, I spent over a decade volunteering with listening services, including Samaritans and Childline, as well as providing dedicated LGBTQIA+ support through Queer Notions. This experience deeply informs my practice, and I am comfortable working with trauma, suicidality, and emotional distress.

You may feel stuck or alone, struggling to make sense of your own thoughts or feelings, to recover from past experiences, or to feel okay in the here and now. Whatever you are bringing to therapy, we can work together to better understand what is going on for you and what can change so that you can feel better going forward.

What I Work With

Besides welcoming LGBTQIA+ and neurodivergent individuals, my work focuses on:

Emotional Regulation & Support: Working with anxiety, anger, overwhelm, and struggling to experience and express emotions.

Trauma & Relationships: Processing trauma (including childhood trauma), family dynamics, and all kinds of relationships.

Men’s Mental Health: I have been published on the subject of men’s mental health and suicidality.

Approaches: