Online Counselling for Guilt, Shame and People-Pleasing
Online psychodynamic counselling offers a flexible way to explore the deeper emotional patterns that can leave you feeling stuck.
You might find yourself replaying conversations long after they’ve happened, wondering if you said the wrong thing. Or noticing how easily you put other people first, even when it comes at a cost to you. It may feel difficult to express what you really think or feel without guilt, or there may be a familiar sense of shame or self-criticism that’s hard to shake.
These ways of relating can feel ingrained. They often have roots in earlier relationships, but they don’t have to remain fixed.
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Working together online creates a consistent, reflective space to begin understanding these patterns and, over time, changing how you relate to yourself and others. I offer online psychodynamic counselling to clients across the UK and internationally. While in-person therapy has its place, online work can be just as effective when there is a reliable space to think together.
It may be helpful to consider who this way of working can be particularly suited for.
Remote Work and Flexible Schedules
If you work from home or outside a traditional 9–5 structure, it can be difficult to find time for in-person sessions. The days can begin to blend into one another, with fewer natural breaks or points of contact.
Online counselling offers a regular space in your week without the need to travel.
Full-Time Carers Who Can’t Leave Home
Caring for others often means staying available at all times. It can be difficult to find space that is just for you, or to step away without feeling you’re letting someone down.
Online sessions allow you to access support while remaining at home, making therapy more possible within the limits you’re working with.
Mobility or Accessibility Challenges
Practical barriers can make attending in-person therapy more complicated. Travel itself may be tiring, or spaces may not feel fully accessible or comfortable.
Online counselling removes many of these obstacles, allowing for more consistent and reliable support.
Anxiety About Leaving the House
If leaving home feels overwhelming, the thought of attending sessions in person can add another layer of pressure. You might find yourself putting it off, even when part of you knows you need support.
Speaking from your own space can feel more manageable, offering a starting point to explore what sits beneath these anxieties, at your own pace.
Living in Rural or Isolated Areas
If you live in a more remote area, your options for finding a therapist locally may be limited. You may have already found yourself compromising on what you’re looking for.
Online therapy gives you more choice, making it easier to find someone you feel comfortable working with.
Expats Seeking English-Speaking Therapy
Living abroad can sometimes create a sense of distance — culturally or emotionally. You might notice it’s harder to fully express yourself, or that something gets lost in translation.
Online therapy allows for a different kind of connection, wherever you are based.
What to Consider Before Starting
Online counselling is not a crisis service. If you are experiencing active suicidal thoughts or psychosis, there are dedicated services better suited to support you.
You will need a private, quiet space where you feel able to speak freely. It can help to think in advance about where you won’t be interrupted.
A stable internet connection is important, and it’s worth checking your audio and video beforehand.
I use Zoom for sessions as a secure and confidential platform. We will agree on a regular time and day each week to provide consistency.
How Can Online Therapy Be Effective?
A central part of therapy is having a space where you feel able to speak openly and reflect on your experience. This can develop both online and in person.
Psychodynamic counselling focuses on the patterns beneath immediate difficulties — particularly how past relationships may continue to shape how you feel and relate to others. This often becomes something we can notice and think about together within the therapy itself.
This depth of work can take place online when there is a consistent and engaged space to think together.
If you are considering starting therapy, I offer a free consultation where we can explore what has brought you here and whether working together feels like the right fit.
You’re welcome to get in touch, even if you’re unsure — we can think it through together.