Dr Brendan J Dunlop

My therapy approach is predominantly integrative. This means that I ‘integrate’ different therapeutic approaches based on the client that I am working with. What this means is that your therapy will be highly personalised and specific to you and your needs. I will be able to tell you which therapy or therapies may best suit your needs, based on your story and experiences, and the psychological evidence base for any particular difficulties you may be experiencing. Let’s arrive at this decision together, so that we can ensure you feel comfortable with whatever approaches I suggest.

I work in an anti-oppressive and affirmative way with all of my clients. This takes into account the difficulties that can be experienced in relation to the socio-political, systemic, neurotypical, ableist, hetero- and cis-normative world that we live in. This extends to all minortisied identities and communities, including the LGBTQ+, neurodivergent, disabled, migrant, BIPOC and sex worker communities.

In my work, I use a range of therapeutic approaches. These are mainly:

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Cognitive Analytic Therapy (CAT) informed, Attachment Theory, Narrative Therapy and Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT).

I offer all my therapy remotely via the video platform Zoom, though I can also offer sessions via telephone or text if you do not feel comfortable showing your face. Session fees are £135, and I offer block booking discounts.

I am registered with Aviva, AXA Health, WPA and VitalityHealth. If you have a private medical insurance policy with these companies, you may be able to get your therapy funded through this.

Clinical Psychologists are trained to work with a multitude of mental health challenges. The difficulties that I could support you with include, but are not limited to:

Feeling low/anxious, eating difficulties, sleep difficulties, self-harmful behaviours, experiences of trauma, interpersonal difficulties, shame, stress, management of long-term health conditions, emotional dysregulation, identity concerns, suicidal ideation, hearing voices, grief and bereavement and substance (mis)use.

Clinical Psychologists are trained to work across the lifespan, from very young children to people who are older adults.

I offer therapy to adolescents and young adults, working age adults, families, couples, and older adults.

Because of my particular expertise and skills, I can offer specialist support to people who identify as being from the LGBTQ+ community. I take an intersectional approach to therapy, accounting for the fact that people can sometimes have multiple minoritised parts of their identity that can interact in ways that are important for us to understand in relation to mental health and wellbeing.

I have particular interests and expertise in working with minoritised folk, especially people from the LGBTQ+ community. This also includes people that hold multiple minoritised identities, such as differences in ethnicity/heritage, neurodivergence and disability.

I have also worked extensively with self-harmful behaviours, in both a clinical and research capacity.

I also have extensive experience working with people that are bisexual, and also folks experiencing gender identity difficulties, gender dysphoria and/or gender incongruence.

When some people think of therapy, they may think that something must be ‘wrong’ or in need of ‘fixing’ for them to speak with a professional. In reality, therapy can benefit almost anyone.

Perhaps you’d like to learn more about yourself, such as your style of relating to others or the direction you want your life to travel in. Perhaps you want to consider how different parts of your identity fit together, or how you can live more in line with your values. It’s perfectly OK to want to speak about these aspects of yourself in a safe, confidential, and protected space.