Michael Harland , BACP

Michael Harland practices depth-oriented therapy that places emotional experience at the centre of the therapeutic work. He views talking as a vehicle to reach deeper feelings rather than an end in itself, and places priority on sensing and processing emotions that thinking can sometimes bypass. This style of therapy explores how thoughts often serve as defenses against difficult feelings and aims to help people access, tolerate, and understand those emotions so they can move forward.

Depth therapy is presented in contrast to cognitive approaches, which use thought-focused strategies to manage or reframe emotions. Because these perspectives differ in emphasis, Michael notes that there are situations where strengthening defenses and working with cognitive tools is the preferable option. He does not recommend depth therapy for people who are currently experiencing non-drug-induced psychosis, who are in the middle of an acute crisis, or who have suffered extremely severe trauma. In such circumstances, approaches that emphasize stabilization and cognitive methods may be more appropriate.

Michael holds BACP, which denotes affiliation with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy. He brings a respectful, feeling-focused stance to work across a wide range of psychological difficulties, offering an approach that seeks emotional depth and meaningful change.

Mindfulness and Psychodynamic Approaches in Online Therapy

Michael Harland incorporates Mindfulness Therapy and Psychodynamic Therapy into his online practice. Mindfulness Therapy focuses on present-moment awareness and gentle attention to thoughts, sensations, and emotions; it can help people manage stress, anxiety, and patterns of reactivity by developing steadier attention to experience. Psychodynamic Therapy explores underlying emotional patterns and relational themes that have developed over time; it aims to bring awareness to unconscious dynamics, attachment issues, and repeated interpersonal patterns that contribute to distress.

Finding the right therapeutic approach is part of the work itself. Michael takes a collaborative stance, working with clients to identify which methods best suit their needs, goals, and preferences, and adapting the focus as therapy progresses to ensure the approach fits the individual.

Online therapy offers practical flexibility - sessions can take place by video call, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging, allowing people to access licensed professionals from different locations and to choose the communication style that feels most comfortable. This variety supports continuity of care and makes it easier to fit therapy into everyday life.