Carlie Machell-Kay , NCPS

Carlie Machell-Kay is a qualified psychodynamic counsellor who helps people explore how past relationships and early experiences shape current thoughts, feelings, and behaviours. She brings long-standing experience working with people for over 25 years and qualified as a therapist seven years ago, combining practical background with focused clinical training. Her practice has a strong emphasis on trauma and its lasting impacts, alongside work addressing relationship difficulties. She has developed professional experience supporting women's mental wellbeing and has extensive experience in domestic abuse settings, which informs a careful and informed approach to sensitive issues. Carlie also has personal experience of neurodiversity and brain injury and is able to empathise with clients and family members affected by these challenges. She is described as friendly and approachable and adapts sessions to meet each person’s needs. Carlie holds the NCPS credential, a recognised professional qualification in counselling and psychotherapy that reflects her training and commitment to practice.

Psychodynamic and Trauma-Informed Approaches for Online Therapy

Carlie works with psychodynamic therapy, a method that explores how past relationships and early experiences influence current emotions and behaviour. This approach can help when recurring patterns, relationship issues, or long-standing emotional responses are present by bringing these dynamics into awareness and examining their roots.

She also uses trauma-focused therapy to address the effects of traumatic experiences. This approach concentrates on understanding the impact of trauma and developing practical strategies to reduce distress and improve day-to-day functioning, particularly for those who have experienced abuse or other significant harm.

In practice, finding the right approach is a collaborative process. Carlie will discuss goals, preferences, and needs with each person and help determine which combination of methods is likely to be most helpful, adapting the plan as therapy progresses.

Online therapy offers practical benefits through multiple options - video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging - making it easier to fit therapy into busy lives and to access support from different locations. Working remotely with licensed professionals and therapists can increase flexibility, reduce travel time, and allow continuity of care in ways that suit each person's circumstances.