Carlie Machell-Kay, NCPS

Carlie Machell-Kay is a qualified psychodynamic counsellor who holds the NCPS credential, with NCPS presented here as a counselling credential. She brings a long history of working with people - over 25 years of professional contact - and has been qualified as a therapist for 7 years. Her psychodynamic orientation supports careful exploration of why thoughts, feelings, and behaviours develop, with particular attention to how past relationships continue to shape present-day patterns and responses.

Carlie has developed a specialism in trauma and its impacts and frequently supports clients with relationship difficulties. Her professional background includes roles in women’s mental wellbeing and extensive experience in domestic abuse settings, which inform a sensitive and informed approach to clients who have experienced interpersonal harm. She also draws on personal experience of neurodiversity and brain injury to connect empathetically with people and families navigating those issues.

Known for being friendly and approachable, Carlie adapts therapy to individual needs, tailoring pace and focus so that each person’s priorities guide the work. She aims to combine relational understanding with practical support to help clients better understand their histories, make sense of current struggles, and consider ways forward.

Psychodynamic and trauma-informed approaches for online support

Carlie works with several therapeutic approaches adapted for remote work. Psychodynamic therapy focuses on understanding how past relationships and early experiences influence current feelings and behaviours; it can help people explore recurring patterns and the roots of emotional responses. Trauma-focused therapy addresses the effects of traumatic experiences by helping clients process difficult events and their aftermath in a paced, supportive way, often benefiting those dealing with abuse, loss, or overwhelming stress. Client-centered therapy emphasizes the client’s own goals and priorities, offering a non-directive, empathetic space that helps people feel heard and decide what changes they want to make.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process, and Carlie works collaboratively with clients and registered professionals to identify the best fit based on individual needs, goals, and preferences. She adapts techniques and the pace of work to suit each person.

Online therapy offers practical flexibility - sessions can take place by video call or phone, and shorter exchanges are possible via live chat or text-based messaging. These options make it easier to access therapy around work, family commitments, or geographic constraints, while allowing ongoing support that fits daily life.