Counsellor profile
Mark McConnell, BACP
UK counsellor - Family and parenting concerns
Continue with MarkAbout
- Stress and anxiety
- CBT and mindfulness
- Motivation work
About Mark
Mark McConnell is a UK counsellor registered with the BACP and has three years of professional experience. He works with adults on stress, anxiety, low self-esteem, depression and motivation. He also supports people facing relationship strains, parenting pressures and grief.
He takes a directive style and treats the client as the expert in their own story. That means he asks focused questions, suggests steps to try, and helps people recognise their existing strengths. Sessions aim to identify simple, practical next steps rather than long lists of theory.
His background includes work with people managing compulsive behaviours and addiction, sleeping and eating problems, and issues around intimacy and impulsivity. He also has experience with fatherhood concerns, abandonment and communication difficulties. These areas often overlap, and he helps clarify which problem to tackle first.
Therapeutic methods he uses include client-centred techniques, cognitive behavioural strategies, mindfulness exercises and motivational interviewing. Sometimes he draws on psychodynamic ideas to look at patterns that repeat over time. He adapts the mix depending on what a person says is most useful.
People can expect a direct conversational tone in sessions. He will propose exercises or reflections between meetings when they may help. Booking begins with a short matching questionnaire to make sure practical arrangements suit each person.
How sessions work
How his approaches translate to online work
Mark uses client-centred techniques to listen and reflect what matters most to a person. This approach focuses on the individual’s own priorities and helps clarify immediate goals and next steps. He also uses cognitive behavioural therapy, which involves spotting unhelpful thoughts and testing out small behavioural changes. CBT is practical and suits problems like anxiety, low mood and sleeping difficulties. Deciding which approach to use is a collaborative part of the first few sessions. He will talk with each person about their goals, try methods that fit those aims, and adjust the plan as progress or obstacles appear. Practical benefits of online work can include fitting sessions around busy home and work routines, shorter check-ins when helpful, and easier access for people living at a distance. The biography does not specify which online formats are offered, so confirm current session options before booking. Many people find that online sessions make it simpler to schedule regular appointments and to bring real-life situations into discussion.Areas of focus
Areas of expertise
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
3+ years
Listed in
United Kingdom
Languages
English
Questions
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of family or parenting concerns are supported?
He helps people coping with parenting strain, fatherhood issues, family problems and communication breakdowns. These areas are listed among his core concerns.
How would he approach conflict with a partner or parent?
He uses a directive, conversational style and will help identify steps to improve communication. Sessions focus on practical actions and clearer patterns of interaction.
What is his professional background?
He has three years of professional counselling experience in the UK and works with a range of problems including anxiety, depression, addiction and trauma-related issues.
Is he registered and where does he practise?
He is registered with the BACP and is based in the United Kingdom.
Can I work with him if I live outside the UK?
He accepts international clients. Sessions are offered in English.
What session formats are available?
The original biography does not list specific session formats. Please confirm current session options before booking.
How are fees handled?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription model that can be cancelled at any time.
How do I begin a first session?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule your first session.
Details come from information the counsellor supplied to BetterHelp. A registration can be checked with the body that issued it.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If anyone is in danger, use the crisis numbers.