Finder

Offers

• Face-to-face consultations
• Video and telephone consultations

About me

I'm John Mackessy. Since 2001 I've been supporting people with a wide range of mental health, neurodiversity and personal development needs.

My training was Integrative, which means that I adapt my approach to the specific needs of each person that I work with. Clients tell me that I work in a friendly and approachable way, drawing upon my knowledge and experience but not losing sight of the person in front of me.

Much of my work and research in recent years has been with neurodivergence (an area in which I also train counsellors). About 80% of my clients identify as neurodivergent, including Autism Spectrum, ADHD and AuDHD, or are going through the process of diagnosis.

I offer a free initial online meeting, which takes about 30 minutes, so that you can tell me a bit about your situation and get a sense of what it might be like to work with me. If this interests you, just drop me a line at info@internetcounselling.co.uk

Sessions are online or by telephone, providing a safe and confidential space for people to find ways forward that work best for them, both personally and professionally.

I am diversity-affirmative. I believe that, for instance, while neurodivergence presents very real challenges in life, it is often also an important part of a person's identity - their sense of self and how they see the world. This deserves to be respected.

Neurodivergent folk, and others, very frequently have had to live with stigma, loss and shame around being and feeling 'different' and it often helps to work this through, so that a person can feel more confident in who they are and the directions and choices they want to take.

Counselling and therapy can offer people a chance to explore their stories and get a better sense of themselves, but can also have quite a practical dimension - developing strategies and personal resources to face the challenges that life brings. There is no one-size-fits-all, which is why it can help to work with someone like me who brings knowledge and experience of more than one therapeutic approach to the table. In that regard, I have been teaching Integrative Counselling for the past twenty years on British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy accredited trainings. I also supervise the work of other counsellors and therapists.

Areas of interest

I work with adults around a wide range of issues and needs, including:
Neurodivergence; ADHD; Autism; AuDHD; Trauma; Shame & Stigma; RSD (Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria); Overwhelm & Overstimulation; Difference & Identity; Personal & Professional Development

Specialist interests and expertise in the following physical conditions

• Physical disability