About Joel
Joel McNamara is an ACA counsellor who helps people change how they respond to anxiety, stress and unwanted behaviours. He focuses on practical steps that let people move toward the life they value. Joel keeps sessions straightforward and down-to-earth for people who are feeling stuck or overwhelmed.
He believes therapy is a collaborative conversation. Joel works with clients to clarify problems, name the needs behind those problems, and create a clear plan to meet those needs.
Background and approach
He describes clients as the experts on their own lives and positions himself as a guide and sounding board. Joel uses a person-centred stance supported by approaches like Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Narrative Therapy. He also draws on techniques that work with the body and nervous system to help regulate strong emotions and behaviours.
The mix is tailored to each client rather than forcing a single method. His work covers anxiety, depression, addictions, self-esteem and ADHD, plus related stresses such as caregiving, chronic illness and relationship problems. Joel has experience working cross-culturally and has a particular interest in supporting young adults and men’s mental health.
Sessions are practical and goal-focused. Conversations often include noticing patterns, trying new behaviours between sessions, and reviewing what works. Joel aims to make change feel manageable and relevant to everyday life.
Therapeutic approaches and online support
Joel blends Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy in online sessions. ACT helps people notice anxious thoughts without getting pulled in and identify what matters to them so they can take small steps toward those values. CBT targets unhelpful thinking and behaviour patterns and introduces practical experiments to test new ways of coping.He prefers a collaborative process where finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will discuss options, try techniques in session, and adjust methods to fit a person's goals, needs and preferences. Clients and the therapist decide together what to keep or change as therapy progresses.
Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat and text-based messaging. Video is useful for longer, deeper conversations and practical exercises. Phone sessions can be easier when bandwidth is limited or for shorter check-ins. Live chat and text messaging suit quick reflections, between-session support and people who prefer not to be on camera. These options make it easier to fit therapy into busy lives and to access suitably qualified therapists from different locations.
Questions people ask
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What this therapist works with
Most often
Also listed
- ADHD
- Aging and geriatric issues
- Attachment issues
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Chronic pain, illness, and disability
- Codependency
- Commitment issues
- Communication problems
- Control issues
- Dependent personality
- Depression
- Divorce and separation
- Drug and alcohol addiction
- Emptiness
- Family problems
- Fatherhood issues
- Guilt and shame
- Impulsivity
- Infidelity
- Isolation / loneliness
- Life purpose
- Men's issues
- Mood disorders
- Panic disorder and panic attacks
- Process addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)
- Self-love
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Young adult issues
Therapeutic approaches
- Experience
- 4 years
- Licensed
- Languages
- English
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