Patricia McIntosh, BACP

Patricia McIntosh is a BACP-accredited counsellor and EMDR UK-registered therapist with over eight years of professional experience supporting people across the United Kingdom. She specialises in a wide range of concerns including stress, anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, low self-esteem, motivation and career-related challenges, as well as relationship, family and intimacy issues, grief, sleep difficulties, anger, coping with life changes, coaching needs and compassion fatigue. Working in a person-centred way, she focuses on creating a respectful, non-judgmental environment where individuals can explore their thoughts and emotions and build greater clarity and resilience.

Patricia offers both in-person sessions in Aberdeen’s West End and online therapy across the UK, tailoring each session to the client’s unique circumstances and goals. Her background includes work in the voluntary sector, with insurance and Employee Assistance Programme providers, and in private practice, giving her experience with diverse needs and settings. She integrates evidence-informed methods into her practice, including EMDR therapy, to support recovery and personal growth.

She holds an MSc in Person-Centred Counselling - a master’s degree focused on counselling practice - and a BA (Hons) in Psychology from the University of Aberdeen. With a particular interest in anxiety and trauma research, Patricia applies research-informed approaches to help clients move toward more meaningful, balanced lives. Taking the first step can be difficult, and she aims to walk alongside people as they work toward greater resilience and wellbeing.

Therapeutic approaches and online work

Patricia draws on several established approaches to tailor therapy to each person’s needs. Client-centred therapy emphasises the client’s own perspective - the therapist offers empathic listening and support to help people explore their feelings and build self-understanding, which can be helpful for issues like low self-esteem, relationship difficulties and life transitions.

EMDR - Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing - is an approach Patricia integrates when appropriate. It involves structured processing of distressing memories and sensations and is often used to address trauma-related reactions and intense emotional symptoms.

Solution-focused therapy is also part of her toolkit - this approach concentrates on practical steps and small, achievable changes to help clients move toward their goals, which can be useful for motivation, career concerns and coping with current challenges.

Finding the right therapeutic approach is a collaborative part of the process. Patricia works with each person to decide which methods best fit their needs, goals and preferences, adjusting the approach as progress unfolds and new priorities emerge.

Online therapy offers practical flexibility - sessions can take place by video call, phone, live chat or text-based messaging to fit different schedules and comfort levels. These options make it easier to access ongoing support from registered professionals and therapists when travel, work or other commitments make in-person visits difficult, helping clients maintain continuity of care and work toward their goals from wherever they are.