Alan Opfer, BACP

Alan Opfer is a counsellor based in the United Kingdom who helps people facing midlife challenges, addiction, anxiety and life changes. He draws on three years of professional experience and his own lived experience of recovery to offer practical, non-judgemental support. His working style is direct and person-focused, aiming to make small changes that add up over time.

He uses a person-centred approach that treats clients as the experts on their own lives. Sessions are shaped around each person’s needs and priorities rather than a rigid programme. That can mean talking through day-to-day coping, planning short-term steps, or noticing what patterns are getting in the way.

Mindfulness practices are used to help manage stress and anxiety. These techniques are offered in plain language and fitted to whatever feels manageable for the client. Solution-focused methods are also part of the work, which can help when someone wants concrete changes in areas like substance use, routines, or relationships.

Alan has experience supporting people through addiction issues, including harm reduction and pre- and post-detox strategies. He also works with concerns such as depression, grief, relationship difficulties and obsessive patterns like codependency and attachment struggles. His background includes housing support work and knowledge of multi-disciplinary community services.

He aims to offer a steady, practical presence and to help clients find workable steps forward. To begin, people are invited to complete the short matching questionnaire and book a session through the site.

How Alan’s approaches translate to online work

Client-Centred Therapy puts the person’s goals first and shapes sessions around what matters to them. Online sessions can mirror that flexibility by focusing on immediate priorities and adapting the pace to each client’s needs.

Mindfulness Therapy teaches simple attention and breathing practices to reduce stress and ground difficult moments. These exercises are explained in everyday terms and can be practised between sessions to manage anxiety and low mood.

Solution-Focused Therapy looks for small, practical steps that lead to change. It is useful when someone wants to reduce substance use, improve routines, or make specific shifts in work or relationships.

Choosing the right approach is a joint process. The therapist will work with the client to decide which methods fit their goals, preferences and circumstances. That may mean trying different techniques early on and adjusting the plan as things progress.

If you are considering online sessions, please confirm the available session formats before booking. Online therapy can make it easier to fit meetings around work, reduce travel time and allow shorter check-ins when needed. It also lets people use mindfulness exercises and solution-focused tasks in everyday settings, so progress can be practised between meetings.