- Psychodynamic approach
- Trauma focus
- NCPS credential
About Carlie
Carlie Machell-Kay is a counsellor (NCPS) based in the United Kingdom with seven years working as a qualified therapist and over two decades of broader experience in mental health settings. She lists stress, anxiety, relationship and trauma-related concerns among her main areas of focus, along with parenting and grief. Carlie also names ADHD and compassion fatigue as concerns she supports.
Carlie uses psychodynamic ideas to look at how past relationships shape current thoughts and feelings. She describes this approach as a way of understanding why people behave the way they do. She also draws on trauma-focused methods to address the after-effects of abuse and distressing events.
Her practice has included roles in women’s mental wellbeing services and domestic abuse settings. That background informs how she approaches safety and pacing in conversations about traumatic experiences. She also notes lived experience of neurodiversity and brain injury, and says this helps her relate to people in those situations.
In sessions Carlie works in a straightforward way. She listens to what is causing difficulty and helps people talk through patterns, painful memories, and relationship strains. She aims to help clients identify small, practical steps they can try between meetings.
People who reach out start by completing a short matching questionnaire and then scheduling a first session. Costs vary by location and sessions use a subscription that can be cancelled at any time. If you are thinking about beginning, confirm the session formats currently offered before booking.
Approaches and how online sessions work
Carlie draws on psychodynamic ideas to explore how early relationships and past events influence current feelings and behaviour. This approach can help when patterns repeat in relationships or when people want to understand the reasons behind anxiety and avoidance. She also uses trauma-focused methods when past harm continues to cause distress. Trauma-focused work often involves carefully paced conversations about difficult memories and practical techniques to reduce overwhelming reactions. Finding the right approach is part of the work. Carlie will discuss your needs, goals and preferences and decide together which methods to try. That collaborative planning helps set realistic next steps and aims for each session. Please confirm the current session options before booking so you know the formats offered. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life, for example by reducing travel time, allowing a shorter check-in at lunch, or offering alternatives if video calls are difficult. Many people find that remote sessions let them access a counsellor from another location or at times that suit their routine.Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
7+ years
Listed in
United Kingdom
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does she help with?
She lists stress, anxiety, relationship issues, trauma and related topics such as parenting, grief and ADHD.
How would she work with social anxiety or phobias?
Carlie uses psychodynamic and trauma-informed approaches to look at patterns that make social situations hard and to process distressing experiences that affect confidence in social settings.
What is her therapeutic style like?
She works in a listening-led way that encourages people to talk through patterns, memories and current problems, and to try small practical steps between sessions.
What experience does she bring?
She has seven years as a qualified therapist and more than 20 years of wider experience in mental health, including work in women's wellbeing and domestic abuse settings.
What qualification does she hold and where is she based?
She is listed with NCPS and practises in the United Kingdom.
Which languages are supported and can international clients book?
Sessions are offered in English and she accepts international clients.
How are sessions paid for and what does it cost?
Costs vary with location and sessions use a subscription model that can be cancelled at any time.
How do I start a first session?
Begin by selecting the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule your first session.