Leo Puttock, BACP

Leo Puttock is a qualified, person-centred counsellor practising on the edge of the Peak District near Macclesfield. He holds the BACP credential - the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy - and brings six years of experience gained across the NHS, local charities and his private practice. Leo works with both young people and adults from diverse backgrounds, offering support for anxiety, depression, traumatic and adverse experiences, work-related stress, relationship difficulties, new-parent challenges, addictions, identity and sexuality concerns, and a range of other life issues.

At the heart of his practice is a client-centred philosophy that trusts each person to find their own path toward growth. He combines that core stance with practical techniques drawn from acceptance and commitment therapy, mindfulness, brief solution-focused work and trauma-informed approaches, adapting skills to what feels most useful in the moment. Leo is an ally to the LGBT community and aims to create an accepting environment that helps clients build strong therapeutic relationships.

He encourages a gentle, collaborative first conversation so people can explore whether his way of working fits their needs. Leo invites anyone considering therapy to get in touch for an initial no-pressure discussion about goals and next steps.

Therapeutic approaches and online support

Leo blends client-centred work with acceptance and commitment therapy and mindfulness to offer a practical, values-driven approach to change. Client-centred therapy focuses on understanding each person from their own perspective and creating a respectful, non-judgemental space for exploration - this helps with relationship concerns, self-esteem and identity-related issues. Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) supports people in recognising what matters to them and taking committed action toward those values while learning to relate differently to difficult thoughts and feelings - it is useful for anxiety, stress and patterns of avoidance. Mindfulness therapy teaches skills for being more present with experience, which can reduce reactivity and support coping with anxiety, depression and trauma symptoms.

Choosing the right approach is part of the therapeutic process, and Leo works collaboratively with clients to find what fits best based on their needs, goals and preferences. He adapts techniques over time so therapy evolves with the client.

Online therapy through video calls, phone sessions, live chat or text-based messaging offers flexibility for people with busy schedules, mobility limits or geographical constraints. These options make it easier to maintain consistency, access support from home, and fit therapy around work, family and daily life while working with registered professionals and therapists who tailor the format to each client's needs.