MindScreening
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Michael Harland

Depth-style counsellor focusing on feelings

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  • Mindfulness Therapy
  • Psychodynamic Therapy
  • Relationship issues

About Michael

Michael Harland works with stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, self-esteem, depression and a wide range of related concerns by focusing on feelings rather than thoughts. He offers depth-style therapy which gives priority to emotional experience as a way to understand problems. He is registered with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, BACP, and has five years' experience.

He explains that depth therapy treats thinking as a defence against difficult feelings. Sessions focus on what comes up emotionally in the room and on helping people notice patterns that repeat in their relationships and behaviour. Conversations are used as a tool to get to those feelings rather than as an end in themselves.

Michael also draws on mindfulness techniques to help people sit with and notice difficult sensations and emotions. Mindfulness practices are used alongside discussion to reduce reactivity and support clearer thinking when emotions are strong.

He says depth work is not suitable for everyone. He does not recommend it for people currently in a crisis, anyone who has experienced non-drug-induced psychosis, or those who have suffered extremely severe trauma; in such cases he suggests cognitive approaches instead.

Michael works with a wide set of concerns including ADHD, addictions, relationship and intimacy issues, grief, parenting and career pressures. His practice also addresses attachment and identity matters such as abandonment, adoption and foster care, autism and Asperger syndrome, and BDSM, kink and alternative sex culture.

Sessions aim to help people understand how past experiences shape present reactions and to develop ways to manage strong feelings more effectively. He encourages questions about approach and suitability before booking a first session.

How his approaches work in online sessions

Depth-style or psychodynamic work explores how past experiences shape present feelings and behaviours; the counsellor helps people notice repeated patterns and strong emotional responses. This can help with relationship problems, attachment issues, and long-standing emotional difficulties.

Mindfulness Therapy involves simple practices to develop present-moment awareness and reduce reactivity to distressing thoughts and sensations. It is useful for anxiety, stress and learning to tolerate difficult feelings alongside depth work.

Finding the right approach is part of therapy. Michael will work collaboratively to decide whether depth work, mindfulness, or a combination fits a person's needs, goals and preferences. That choice can change over time as the work unfolds.

The practical benefits of online counselling include fitting sessions into a busy week and reducing travel time so people can attend from different locations. The biography does not specify which online formats are used, so confirm current session options before booking. Online work can make it easier to book shorter check-ins, have sessions during a lunch break, or avoid the need to travel for each appointment.

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Topics Michael lists

Ways of working

Questions about Michael

Does he work with anxiety?
Yes. Anxiety and stress are listed among his primary concerns and he uses depth work and mindfulness to help manage strong emotions.
What kind of counselling does he offer?
He offers depth-style therapy that prioritises feeling over thought, and uses mindfulness alongside psychodynamic ideas.
How much experience does he have?
He has five years' experience practising as a counsellor and is registered with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, BACP.
Where is he based and registered?
He practises in the United Kingdom and is registered with BACP as stated in his profile.
Which languages are sessions offered in?
Sessions are offered in English and he does accept international clients.
What session formats does he use?
The original biography does not specify session formats; please confirm current session options before booking.
How much do sessions cost?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription model that can be cancelled at any time.
How do I begin working with him?
Use the Talk to a counsellor online button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.

This page is based on Michael's public BetterHelp listing and is not written by Michael. It is not a recommendation. If anything here is wrong, tell us and we will correct it.

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