Counsellor profile
Joel McNamara, ACA
Australia
ACA counsellor - Stress and Addictions
Continue with JoelWhere Joel stands
- Credentials
- ACA
- Registration
- ACA, Australia / 27050
- Experience
- 4 years
- Languages
- English
- Location
- Australia
About
- ACT
- CBT
- Narrative therapy
About Joel
Joel McNamara is an ACA counsellor with four years of practice in Australia. He helps people who are dealing with stress, anxiety, addiction, low self-esteem, depression and ADHD. He also works with issues such as codependency, attachment challenges, caregiver strain and difficulties around communication and control.
Joel frames counselling as a collaborative conversation. He treats the client as the expert on their life and focuses on clarifying problems and the wants or needs underneath them. From there he and the client decide on small, practical steps to change patterns of behaviour that cause harm or distress.
His day-to-day approach is person-centred and practical. He draws on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Narrative Therapy and Motivational Interviewing to help people notice thoughts and habits, and to act in line with what matters to them. He also uses attachment-informed ideas to address relationship patterns.
Joel describes working with the body and nervous system as an aid for regulating emotions and behaviour. That can mean simple grounding or breathing practices alongside talking. He aims to match techniques to the person, not force a single method on everyone.
He has experience working cross-culturally and has a particular interest in young adults and men's mental health. To begin, Joel asks people to reflect on what a valued life looks like for them and then build doable steps toward that life.
How sessions work
How Joel uses ACT, attachment ideas and CBT online
Joel commonly uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to help people notice their thoughts, decide what matters to them, and take small actions that align with those values. ACT is useful for anxiety, low mood and patterns that keep people stuck.He also draws on attachment-based ideas to look at how early relationship patterns affect current behaviour, communication and codependency. That approach helps when people keep prioritising others or struggle with boundary setting.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is used to identify unhelpful thinking and to practise different responses. CBT gives concrete exercises for managing anxiety, mood and behaviour between sessions.
Choosing a method is collaborative - Joel will discuss goals and preferences and help decide what to try first. He adapts techniques as progress and challenges emerge rather than sticking rigidly to one model.
Session formats are not specified in the biography, so confirm available options before booking. Online sessions can make it easier to fit counselling into a busy week, reduce travel time and allow shorter check-ins when needed. The focus is on practical tools and pacing that fit into everyday life rather than on lengthy or rigid session rules.
Areas of focus
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
4+ years
Listed in
Australia
Languages
English
Questions
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of problems does he help with?
He works with stress, anxiety, addiction, low self-esteem, depression and ADHD, and with related concerns such as codependency and caregiver stress.
What is his counselling style like?
His style is person-centred and collaborative. He focuses on clarifying problems and creating practical steps to change unhelpful patterns.
How much clinical experience does he have?
He has four years of experience working with people in Australia and has a background in cross-cultural practice.
What credentials does he hold and where is he based?
He is an ACA counsellor practising in Australia.
Can I see him if I don't live in Australia?
He does not accept international clients at this time and works with people in Australia only.
Which session formats are offered?
Confirm current session options before booking as the biography does not list specific formats.
How much do sessions cost?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be cancelled at any time.
How do I get started with him?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Details come from information the counsellor supplied to BetterHelp. A registration can be checked with the body that issued it.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are not safe at home, use the crisis and helpline numbers.