Peter Spanton, BACP

Peter Spanton is a counsellor who supports people dealing with stress, anxiety, addiction, trauma, depression and anger. He also helps those facing relationship strain, issues around guilt and shame, loneliness, and questions about life purpose and midlife change. Peter works in English and is based in the United Kingdom. He holds BACP accreditation and has five years of professional experience.

Peter aims to make sessions straightforward and calm. He listens without judging and gives time for people to tell their story. He explains ideas plainly and helps clients try different ways of thinking and managing difficult feelings.

Before training as a counsellor, Peter worked in the restaurant sector and ran a drinks company as creative director. That background gave him direct experience of workplace stress and the pressure of running a small business. He brings that practical perspective into conversations about work, identity and life transitions.

In sessions Peter combines practical techniques with a look at the patterns behind current difficulties. He uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to identify unhelpful thinking and behaviours, and psychodynamic ideas to consider how past experiences affect the present. Sessions are paced to each person and focused on what matters to them.

He describes taking the first step as a brave move and aims to make the process as manageable as possible. People who are unsure what to expect are invited to begin with a short matching questionnaire and then arrange a session when they are ready.

How his approaches guide online work

Peter uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help people spot and change unhelpful thoughts and habits. CBT tends to be practical and problem-focused, which can help with anxiety, mood issues, addictions and social fears.

He also draws on psychodynamic ideas to look at patterns formed by earlier experiences and how these shape present feelings and reactions. This approach can help when someone wants to understand deeper emotional themes or recurring relationship difficulties.

Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. Peter will discuss what matters to the client, their goals and how they prefer to work, then suggest techniques from CBT or psychodynamic thinking that might suit. The plan can be adjusted as therapy progresses.

The original profile does not list specific online session formats, so please confirm the available options before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit sessions around busy days, reduce travel time, and allow shorter check-ins when needed. Registered or accredited professionals can adapt techniques for remote sessions, for example using practical CBT exercises or reflective psychodynamic conversations to fit a client's everyday life.