Gary Main

Gary Main is a BACP counsellor with more than 25 years of professional practice. He has worked across charities and within NHS services, and brings a calm, approachable style to sessions. He aims to create a welcoming, non-judgemental space where people can talk through difficult feelings and practical problems.

He focuses on depression, anxiety, bereavement and loss, and coping with life changes such as relationship breakdown and identity shifts. Divorce and separation are included among the areas he pays attention to, along with issues like low self-worth and addictions. His background includes 14 years working in NHS service provision and a range of voluntary and charity roles.

Sessions are grounded in straightforward conversation and careful listening. He describes his manner as warm and compassionate, and he works to help people find clearer paths through their current challenges. He aims to be alongside clients as they consider what changes might help them feel better.

Gary draws on a mix of approaches to suit different problems and personalities. He uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to help people notice thoughts and values, Client-Centred Therapy to keep the person’s own priorities central, and Emotionally-Focused Therapy when emotions and attachment are a central concern.

People can expect practical discussion of day-to-day coping alongside reflective work about meaning and relationships. He encourages small, manageable steps and clear options rather than complex jargon.

How his approaches translate to online therapy

Gary uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to help people notice thoughts and choose actions that match their values, which can be useful for stress, anxiety and life changes. Client-Centred Therapy keeps the client’s priorities at the heart of sessions and focuses on listening and empathy to help people feel heard. Emotionally-Focused Therapy concentrates on emotions and patterns in close relationships, which can help when feelings and attachment are central concerns.

He sees choosing an approach as a collaborative process. The therapist will talk with the client about their needs, goals and preferences and suggest which methods to try first. If something does not fit, they will review alternatives together rather than sticking to one method rigidly.

Confirm the current session options before booking, as the biography does not list specific formats. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy around daily life - for example it can reduce travel time, allow a shorter check-in during a break, or make it simpler to connect when regular face-to-face attendance is difficult. The focus remains on practical ways to manage symptoms and on finding steps that work within a person’s everyday routine.