Colin Mackell

I operate a full caseload and have a waiting list; I am currently closed to new clients. Once new clients are assessed and we agree to proceed, the typical wait time is between 3 and 6 months. I do not offer crisis or emergency counselling; most of my work is long-term.

Do not contact me for commercial work or training via this platform.

Addiction Consultancy, Training and Intervention Work are services I provide entirely separately from my work as a Therapist. These have entirely different pricing structures.

I have over 30 years of experience working with addiction, mental health, and abuse issues. As a practising Roman Catholic, my faith influences my work and roles as a father and grandfather to nine. I believe in the inherent dignity and worth of everyone. While faith guides my therapy approach, I do not judge and welcome all with an open heart and mind.

I work only long-term and can provide some flexibility when needed and appropriate.

My training in Psychology and Health Science has given me a solid understanding of the "complexity of the whole person," from conception and throughout the entire life cycle. My studies in Existential Psychology, Psychotherapy, Humanism, Pluralism, and Catholic teaching have deepened my understanding of human nature, our purpose, and the anthropology of the person. I recognise that the developing sense of Self can be fragile yet crucial for functioning and aiding the development of purpose and meaning in life. I understand that losing or distorting these can cause harm. Additionally, my training in Addiction Psychology and Counselling has provided detailed insight into addiction, dependency, substance use, misuse, and the work involved in addressing and treating these issues.

I draw on my experiences as a therapist and person to create a safe, nourishing, and insightful space. My goal is to offer help and understanding to address your suffering, assist in untangling confusion, and help you make sense of what's causing pain and distress, guiding your responses as you move forward.

I aim to offer you a meaningful, safe, and compassionate encounter that fosters a strong connection. I do this so you feel able to share your most tender and vulnerable experiences, and so we can work together at a pace that suits you, with the hope of helping you find sustainable solutions that fit wherever you are on your journey.

When we first meet, I will already assume that you are anxious and may have many questions. I have worked with hundreds of clients over thousands of hours. I will provide a safe environment both physically and experientially, and I will not ask for more than you are willing to disclose. Our discussion during this session and any subsequent sessions is completely confidential. I will require only minimal information for my records, which will be stored and destroyed in accordance with Data Protection and GDPR laws, and will be available to you upon request in most circumstances.

This first session is free, and during it, I will make some recommendations and advise whether I believe I am the right therapist for you or if my approach best suits the issues you present. If we decide not to proceed, we will agree on the next steps, which might include suggestions from me about what you could try or where else to seek support. It may also be that I suggest certain changes I believe you could make initially, which might increase the chances of us progressing together.

If we decide to work together, we will establish an initial timeframe, including duration and frequency—usually 6 to 12 weeks initially, with 50-minute sessions once a week unless otherwise agreed. We will review progress at each interval; this will be done periodically afterwards and will not be a formal written assessment, but a conversational one, and can be written if you require this for your records. At each stage, you have the option to end or continue therapy as you see fit, or to take breaks, and I will inform you in good time of available openings as a result.

If you need to cancel a session, I expect you to do so with at least 24 hours' clear notice; in this case, there will be no charge. If you attend a session intoxicated or under the influence of drugs, I will, in almost all cases, end the session and seek to arrange a new appointment at an appropriate time.

My initial session is for 50 mins. If you are more than 10 minutes late, I will cancel the session and will offer you one final free assessment. If you are late for this session or do not attend (DNA), I will remove you from my waiting list and will not offer you any further sessions except in extenuating circumstances.

When you come, if possible, it may be a good idea beforehand to think about why you chose me in particular, what you hope to get from our sessions, and where you hope to be in your life in, say, one year from now.

I will require only minimal information from you for my records. Our first session will focus on getting to know each other and giving you an opportunity to ask any questions you may have.  My role is to facilitate this in a way that reduces anxiety and helps you feel as little discomfort as possible whilst getting as much detail as needed for me to make a clinical formulation and present my thoughts to you in a way that is informative and provides a useful way forward.