Alan McNeill , BACP

Alan McNeill is a Glasgow-based therapist with 24 years of clinical experience across the NHS, private practice and specialist organisations such as LGBT Health, Gay men's Health, Hospice services and Chai Cancer Care. He works with people whose adult lives have been shaped by difficult childhoods, including experiences of family dysfunction, childhood bereavement, parental addiction, domestic abuse or growing up feeling different from those around them, for example because of sexual orientation or gender identity. Those early experiences often leave a legacy of anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, challenges with social confidence, and repeating patterns in relationships, and he regularly supports people facing these issues.

He also provides care for individuals living with trauma, abuse, grief and loss. Alan emphasises a collaborative stance that recognises each person as the expert in their own life and seeks to help them identify and develop the inner resources that will support change. His work draws on a child/adult model alongside Mindfulness techniques to help clients better contain past events and function more effectively in the present. Alan holds the BACP credential, which indicates membership of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy and adherence to its professional standards.

Therapeutic approaches and online care

Client-Centered Therapy places the client at the heart of the therapeutic work, with the therapist providing empathy and support while helping the person explore their own priorities and solutions. This approach is useful for building self-esteem, improving relationships and finding clearer direction in life.

Mindfulness Therapy teaches practical attention and grounding skills that can reduce reactivity to difficult memories or emotions and support better day-to-day functioning. It is often used alongside other approaches to help manage anxiety, stress and emotional overwhelm.

Trauma-Focused Therapy works directly with the effects of traumatic or abusive experiences, aiming to help people process those events and reduce their ongoing impact on behaviour and relationships. It can be tailored to suit different speeds and levels of distress.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process, and a collaborative discussion about needs, goals and preferences helps determine the best fit. Licensed professionals and therapists work with clients to adapt methods and pace so the work feels manageable and relevant.

Online therapy can deliver these approaches through video calls, phone sessions, live chat and text-based messaging, offering flexibility for scheduling and convenience for people who cannot attend in person. These options make it easier to maintain continuity of care and fit therapy into a busy life.