Matthew Black, NCPS

Matthew Black is a counsellor who focuses on thoughts and everyday habits to help people manage stress, anxiety and life changes. He works with people facing grief, addiction and low self-esteem, and supports those dealing with relationship and LGBT issues. Matthew uses straightforward language and a respectful style to make conversations easier to follow.

He draws on five years of professional experience in the United Kingdom. That experience includes helping people cope with bereavement and adapt after big life shifts. Sessions are shaped around each person's needs rather than a fixed formula. Matthew aims to help people build small practical habits that reduce anxiety and improve day-to-day functioning.

His approach mixes client-centred listening with tools from cognitive behavioural therapy and dialectical behaviour therapy. That means he balances open, non-judgemental listening with simple exercises to change unhelpful thinking and manage strong emotions. He will explain techniques and try them together so people can see what fits.

Matthew emphasises respect, sensitivity and compassion in every conversation. He will work with you to set achievable goals and check progress along the way. If you want clear, practical steps that link thoughts and everyday habits, he can help you explore those changes.

To begin, Matthew asks people to describe what matters most to them and what they hope to change. From there he tailors a plan that suits each person's pace and priorities.

How therapeutic approaches adapt to online working

Client-Centred Therapy focuses on listening and building a trusting conversation. The counsellor follows the person's lead, reflects what they say and helps them find their own answers. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, or CBT, looks at how thoughts influence feelings and actions and uses short practical exercises to change unhelpful patterns. Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, or DBT, combines emotion regulation and coping skills with acceptance of difficult feelings and is often used when strong emotions feel overwhelming.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will talk with the client about goals, preferences and how they like to work. Together they will try techniques and adjust the plan so it fits the person's needs and pace.

If you are considering online sessions, check which formats the therapist currently offers before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy around daily life, for example by saving travel time, allowing a shorter check-in during a break, or offering a quieter setting without needing to be in a different location. Many people find that practising CBT or DBT skills between sessions helps progress, and the therapist will suggest simple homework that fits into everyday routines.