- Person-centred
- Mindfulness informed
- Practical steps
About Alan
Alan Opfer is a BACP counsellor who helps people facing addiction and a wide range of other concerns. He draws on three years of professional experience and personal lived experience of recovery to offer straightforward, non-judgemental support. He aims to meet people where they are and to help them find practical ways forward.
Alan's work focuses on alcohol and substance use, including harm-reduction, controlled use, and strategies for coping before and after detoxification. He also supports people dealing with stress, anxiety, depression, grief, trauma and relationship problems. Codependency and issues around attachment, abandonment and caregiving are among the additional areas he addresses.
He practises in a person-centred way, which means he treats the person as the expert in their own life and adapts the work to each individual's needs. Mindfulness techniques are used to build awareness and calm, while solution-focused ideas help identify small, practical steps toward change. Sessions aim to be direct and useful rather than full of jargon.
Before moving into counselling work, Alan spent time as a housing support worker and has experience of co-ordinating multi-disciplinary community supports. That background informs his practical approach to problem solving and to linking people with wider services when needed.
Alan describes his role as supporting clients without judgement and working to high standards. He invites people to take the first step toward a more manageable life and to shape the work around what matters most to them.
How his approaches translate to online counselling
Client-Centred Therapy places the person at the heart of the work and focuses on listening and understanding. Online sessions using this approach let the counsellor reflect what matters most and adapt each conversation to the client. Mindfulness Therapy teaches simple awareness and breathing practices to reduce stress and increase calm; these can be guided in session and practised between meetings. Solution-Focused Therapy looks for small, practical steps that move a person toward their aims and is useful for problems like coping strategies, codependency patterns and relationship communication.Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will discuss goals, preferences and what feels most helpful, and then tailor the mix of methods together with the client. That collaborative process helps shape sessions to fit changing needs and priorities.
If you are considering online therapy, confirm the supported session formats before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy life, reduce travel time and allow shorter check-ins when needed. It also lets people use mindfulness exercises and practical homework between meetings, so progress continues outside the session.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
3+ years
Credentials
Listed on profile
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does Alan commonly help with?
He works with alcohol and substance use and related issues such as stress, anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship problems, grief and codependency.
What is his therapeutic style like?
Alan uses a person-centred approach, with mindfulness and solution-focused ideas added to build awareness and identify small, practical changes.
How much clinical experience does he have?
He has three years of professional experience and also draws on his own lived experience of recovery from addiction.
What credentials and region does he come from?
He is registered with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and practises in the United Kingdom.
Which languages are supported?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can people outside the UK work with him?
He is not accepting international clients at this time.
How are sessions paid for?
Cost varies with location and therapist arrangements; sessions use a subscription model that can be cancelled at any time.
How do I begin working with him?
Click the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions according to the therapist's availability.
Profile details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. Credential and registration rules differ between the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia.