Profile / United Kingdom
Shea McCartney, BACP, NCPS
United Kingdom
BACP and NCPS counsellor - anxiety and trauma
See online therapy options- CBT methods
- Person-centred work
- Trauma-informed approach
About Shea
Shea McCartney is a BACP and NCPS registered counsellor with four years' experience based in the United Kingdom. He works with stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, grief, low self-esteem and depression, and supports people with relationship and family concerns. He also addresses issues around intimacy, sleep, parenting, anger, career change and compassion fatigue.
Shea uses a person-centred foundation and draws on practical methods from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and solution-focused work. He also brings psychodynamic and trauma-focused approaches when they help. He aims to listen first and then match methods to what a person needs rather than imposing one fixed model.
Sessions tend to begin with a focus on what feels most pressing. Shea helps people notice unhelpful thoughts and habits, test small changes, and track what makes a difference. He can also help unpack past experiences that continue to affect current feelings and relationships.
His background includes roles in NHS mental health services, child protection, trauma and suicide intervention organisations. That experience informs how he responds to anxiety, bereavement, domestic abuse, self-harm and significant life changes.
Shea has an MSc in Counselling and Therapeutic Communication with Professional Practice and a BSc in Sociology with Psychology. He is a Registered Member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (MBACP) and an Accredited Member of the National Counselling & Psychotherapy Society (MNCPS).
People who choose him often want straightforward, structured work on specific problems as well as space to talk about difficult past experiences. He works collaboratively and at a pace that suits each person.
How CBT and trauma-informed work translate to online sessions
Shea draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help people spot unhelpful thoughts and test small behavioural changes. CBT offers concrete exercises and practical ways to measure progress, which many people find helpful for anxiety, low mood and sleep problems.He also uses client-centred principles to prioritise listening and collaboration, and trauma-focused methods when past events are keeping someone stuck. Those approaches allow space for exploring difficult memories and for developing coping skills alongside that exploration.
Deciding which approach to use is part of the work. Shea will discuss goals, preferences and what has or hasn’t worked before, then agree a practical plan together. That collaborative process helps shape whether sessions focus more on thought work, skills practice or exploring history.
The site lists online therapy options you can choose from when you start the matching process. Please confirm the available session formats before booking so they fit your routine. Many people find online sessions easier to fit around work, childcare or health limits, and some prefer shorter check-ins or audio-only options to reduce screen time.
Areas of expertise
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
4+ years
Listed in
United Kingdom
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What issues does he commonly help with?
He works with stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, grief, low self-esteem and depression, plus relationship and family concerns and intimacy-related issues.
How would he describe his therapeutic style?
He starts from a person-centred stance and blends practical CBT techniques with psychodynamic and solution-focused ideas as needed.
How much clinical experience does he have?
He has four years' experience working in NHS mental health services, child protection, trauma and suicide intervention organisations.
What are his credentials and where is he based?
He is a Registered Member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (MBACP) and an Accredited Member of the National Counselling & Psychotherapy Society (MNCPS), based in the United Kingdom.
Which languages are sessions offered in?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can international clients work with him?
He does not accept international clients at this time.
How are sessions paid for and what do they 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?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a 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 you are not safe, use the crisis numbers.