Why men choose online.
For most men, the biggest barrier to therapy is logistics. Online removes it. No commute, no waiting room, no one seeing you walk into a building. Just the session.
Fits around your life.
Shift work, long hours, travel, childcare - online slots flex around your schedule. Evening and early-morning appointments available.
More privacy, often more honesty.
Many men find it easier to talk in their own space. You control the environment. That often means the conversation goes further, faster.
No postcodes. No waiting lists.
Online means access across the whole of the UK. You don't need to be in Southport to work with Mettle. You need a quiet room and a signal.
How online sessions work.
Sessions run via secure video call or phone. You’ll receive a link and clear joining instructions before each appointment - nothing complicated. The first session works the same way: 50 minutes, you say what’s going on, we work out what’s useful.
The therapeutic relationship online is the same as in the room. Most men settle into it by the end of session one. The work doesn’t change - only the commute.
Platform
Secure video call or phone. Link sent in advance. No app download required.
Session length
Up to 50 minutes. Same structure as in-person work.
Your control
You choose the focus. You lead the session. Nothing is introduced without your say-so.
Privacy
NCPS Accredited Registrant. UK GDPR compliant. Notes encrypted and identified by initials only.
Where in the UK I work.
Online counselling has no catchment area. Whether it is called teletherapy, telehealth or just therapy over video, the work reaches anywhere in the UK with a private room and a reliable connection.
Most men working with me online are in the north of England, and these areas have a page of their own. Men in London, the South West and offshore work here too - the list is where the volume is, not a limit.
There is no office in any of those places, and I would rather say so plainly than let a page imply otherwise. There is one room, in Southport. Everywhere else is secure video or phone - and it is the same work either way.
What online actually removes.
- The commute, and the hour it costs you either side of a session.
- The waiting list - most men start within days of the free call.
- The referral. You self-refer, and nobody needs to be told.
- The car park, the waiting room, and being seen walking in.
Also available in person.
If you’d prefer face-to-face, Mettle has a private room in Southport (PR8) - eight minutes from Southport mainline station, easy reach from Birkdale, Ainsdale, Formby, Crosby and Liverpool.
Some men mix both - online for convenience during busy weeks, in person when they want the room. Both options carry the same level of care.
Same therapist. Same work.
Online or in person: you’re working with Chris Brotherton, MNCPS (Acc.) - NCPS Accredited Registrant, Addiction Professionals Advanced Practitioner, AIMH registered. The format changes. The work doesn’t.
Asked before the first online session.
Do you work with men outside the North West?+
Yes. Online counselling has no catchment area - I work with men anywhere in the UK. Most online clients happen to be in Lancashire, Greater Manchester, Cheshire and Merseyside, but that is proximity, not a restriction. The only requirement is a private room and a reliable connection.
Is online therapy as good as being in the room?+
For most men, yes. The research broadly finds online counselling for men as effective as face-to-face for anxiety, low mood and stress. What changes is the commute, not the work. Some men find it easier to speak honestly from their own space, and the conversation gets further, faster.
Do you have an office near me?+
Almost certainly not, and I would rather say so plainly. There is one room, in Southport (PR8). Everywhere else is teletherapy by secure video or phone. If you want to sit in a room with me, Southport is where that happens.
What do I actually need for a session?+
A private space where you will not be interrupted, and a phone, tablet or laptop. You will get a link and joining instructions before each appointment - no app to download and no account to create. If the connection drops, the session continues by phone.
Is it confidential if I am at home?+
From my side, yes. I am an NCPS Accredited Registrant, notes are encrypted and identified by initials only, and the practice is UK GDPR compliant. Your side is worth planning - a room with a door, headphones, and a time when the house is quiet. Some men take the session in the car for exactly this reason.
What does online counselling cost?+
The same as in person. £35 for a 30-minute check-in or £55 for a 50-minute conversation, with block pricing once you book four or more. There is no surcharge or discount for working online, and the first 15-minute call is free.
No commitment. No form.
Book the free 15-min call.
A short conversation to see if online counselling at Mettle is the right fit for you. If it is, we book a session. If it isn’t, I’ll point you somewhere better.