Michael Purvis, BACP
Practical counselling for anxiety and life changes
Details
| Name | Michael Purvis |
|---|---|
| Credentials | BACP |
| Based in | United Kingdom |
| Registered with | BACP |
| Session format | Online |
| Languages | English |
| Years in practice | 3 |
About Michael
Michael Purvis is a BACP-registered counsellor based in the United Kingdom. He uses narrative ideas alongside several practical approaches to help people make sense of difficult experiences. Michael focuses on anxiety, stress and low mood, and also supports people aiming to set and reach life goals.
He sees anxiety in many forms - panic, phobias, obsessive thoughts, and burnout. He also works with anger, loss of purpose after retirement or redundancy, and occupational trauma.
Background and approach
Many people seeking help also mention low mood or depression alongside these concerns. Michael draws on Narrative Therapy to look at the stories people tell about themselves and their relationships. He uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and cognitive behavioural ideas to help people move towards values-led choices and change unhelpful thinking or behaviour.
Attachment-based and client-centred ways of working shape how he builds trust and explores relational patterns. Sessions are practical and conversational. Michael helps people set clear goals in life, work, health and relationships, then breaks progress into manageable steps.
He aims to make therapy feel straightforward rather than overwhelming. With three years of clinical experience, he combines empathic listening with structured tools. Sessions are offered by video call, phone, live chat and text messaging to fit different needs and schedules.
What this therapist works with
His listing names Stress, Anxiety, Relationship issues, Self esteem among the things Michael works with, alongside the areas below.
- Stress, Anxiety
- Relationship issues
- Self esteem
- Depression
- Coaching
- Abandonment
- Adoption and foster care
- Aging and geriatric issues
- Attachment issues
- Autism and Asperger Syndrome
- Blended family issues
- Codependency
- Commitment issues
- Communication problems
- Control issues
- Coping with natural or human-caused disaster
- Divorce and separation
- Drug and alcohol addiction
- Eating and food-related issues
- Emptiness
- Family problems
- Fatherhood issues
- Forgiveness
- Guilt and shame
- Hoarding
- Impulsivity
- Isolation / loneliness
- Jealousy
- Life purpose
- Men's issues
- Midlife crisis
- Money and financial issues
- Mood disorders
- Narcissism
- Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD
- Panic disorder and panic attacks
- Paranoia
- Phobias
- Post-traumatic stress
- Prejudice and discrimination
- Process addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)
- Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
- Self-love
- Sex addiction
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Workplace issues
Approaches listed
- Narrative Therapy: Named in his listing among his approaches.
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT): Listed by Michael among the ways he works.
- Attachment-Based Therapy: Listed by Michael among the ways he works.
- Client-Centered Therapy: Listed by Michael among the ways he works.
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Listed by Michael among the ways he works.
- Existential Therapy: Listed by Michael among the ways he works.
- Psychodynamic Therapy: Listed by Michael among the ways he works.
- Solution-Focused Therapy: Listed by Michael among the ways he works.
- Trauma-Focused Therapy: Listed by Michael among the ways he works.
- Training stated: This directory copies the approaches a therapist names and does not check training records. Ask Michael directly how much of the work is narrative and what a session usually looks like.
Narrative Therapy in this listing
Narrative Therapy appears in this therapist's own list of approaches. That tells you it is part of how he works. It does not tell you how much of a session it shapes, and this directory does not check or rate training.
If a narrative approach is what you are looking for, it is worth asking Michael directly how he uses it and what a session usually looks like.
Online session options
How Michael uses therapy approaches online
Michael often uses Narrative Therapy to help people retell and reframe the stories they carry about themselves. This can be useful for problems like low self-worth, relationship patterns and life transitions because it highlights different ways to understand events. He also draws on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, which focuses on clarifying values and taking small actions that matter. ACT can help when avoidance or unhelpful control strategies are keeping someone stuck. Finding the best approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will work with each person to agree which methods suit their goals and preferences, and adjust the work over time if something feels unhelpful. Online sessions make that collaborative work more flexible. Video calls let you use face-to-face interaction when useful, phone sessions can be easier if bandwidth is limited, and live chat or text messaging are helpful for brief check-ins or ongoing support between sessions. These options make it simpler to fit therapy around work, family and other commitments while still using narrative and ACT-informed techniques.Common questions about this listing
What concerns does Michael commonly help with?
He helps people with stress, anxiety and low mood, and supports work on relationships and self-esteem. He also addresses issues such as burnout, panic, phobias and changes after retirement or redundancy.
How would you describe his therapeutic style?
Michael combines conversational, client-centred listening with structured techniques. The work is practical and focused on small steps toward the goals you set together.
What is his professional background?
He has three years of clinical experience working with anxiety-related conditions and life transitions. His practice brings together several approaches to match different needs.
What credentials does he hold and where is he based?
Michael is registered with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, listed as BACP. He practices in the United Kingdom.
Can I work with him if I live outside the UK?
Sessions are offered in English and he does not accept international clients at this time.
Which session formats does he offer?
Therapy is available by video call, phone sessions, live chat or text-based messaging to suit different schedules and communication preferences.
How are sessions paid for and what do they cost?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be cancelled at any time.
What do I need to do to start therapy?
Choose the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions according to therapist availability.
Contacting this therapist
Sessions with Michael are arranged through our partner platform. It asks a few questions about what you are looking for, then shows you the therapists available to you, including Michael where he has space. Ask about fees, and whether he holds a licence or registration where you live.
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