Gary Main, BACP

Gary Main is a BACP-accredited counsellor with more than 25 years of full-time professional experience. He has worked across a broad range of settings, including charitable organisations and 14 years within NHS service provision, bringing depth of practice to each therapeutic relationship. He is described by his own practice as warm, friendly and compassionate and offers a welcoming, non-judgemental space where people can explore difficult feelings and life challenges.

Gary specialises in stress, anxiety, relationships, grief and depression, and supports clients through significant life changes such as bereavement, separation and identity shifts. He also works with issues including caregiver stress, communication and control problems, guilt and shame, loneliness, panic attacks, sexual concerns, self-worth and questions about life purpose. His approach to therapy is conscientious and client-focused, helping people to find clearer pathways through their struggles and to build practical coping strategies.

BACP denotes membership of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy and signals recognised professional standards in counselling. Gary draws on evidence-informed methods such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Client-Centred Therapy and Emotionally-Focused Therapy to tailor support to each person’s needs. He looks forward to working collaboratively with clients and accompanying them on their journey toward greater clarity and resilience.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Support

Gary integrates Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, which focuses on helping people accept difficult feelings while committing to actions that reflect their values - this approach can be helpful for anxiety, depression and navigating life changes. He also uses Client-Centred Therapy, an approach based on empathy, acceptance and genuine listening that helps people increase self-understanding and build self-worth in the face of relationship and identity challenges. Emotionally-Focused Therapy is used when relationship patterns are a central concern - it concentrates on identifying and reshaping emotional responses to improve connection and communication.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process and Gary collaborates with each person to determine which method or combination of methods best fits their needs, goals and preferences. This collaborative stance helps tailor sessions to what will be most useful for the individual.

Online therapy with Gary is offered via video calls, phone sessions, live chat or text-based messaging, providing flexibility for busy schedules and for people who live outside the therapist's immediate area. These options make it possible to maintain continuity of care during life transitions and to access registered professionals from different locations, while supporting consistent progress toward therapeutic goals.