Hal Thompson, BACP

Hal Thompson recognises how difficult it can feel to take the first step toward therapy and approaches each new relationship with respect for that courage. He is an accredited member of the BACP (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy) and holds a Master’s degree in psychodynamic counselling and psychotherapy from Birkbeck, University of London, as well as a BA in psychology from the University of Sussex. Prior to specialising in therapy, he worked across the arts, education, and mental health sectors, bringing a breadth of professional experience to his practice.

Hal’s work is rooted in psychodynamic practice, attending to how earlier experiences and unconscious coping patterns shape present-day feelings, relationships, and behaviours. He frames therapy as a collaborative process in which the therapeutic plan is shaped together, inviting and validating the many parts of a person’s experience. When helpful, he integrates techniques from cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and Internal Family Systems (IFS) to address patterns of thinking, behaviour, and internal parts that may be contributing to distress.

He works with issues such as stress, anxiety, addictions, trauma and abuse, and self-esteem, and is experienced in supporting concerns that include attachment difficulties, dissociation, substance use, guilt and shame, men’s issues, obsessive-compulsive patterns, panic, and post-traumatic stress. Throughout his practice he emphasises curious, compassionate exploration as a means of understanding sources of stuckness and opening possibilities for growth, change, and greater well-being.