You don’t have to keep pushing through on your own.
I work with men who keep it together at work, crack the jokes, hit the targets, but get home and feel drained, irritable, and disconnected. If that’s you, you’ve found the right place.
You might look fine on the outside, but inside it’s a different story.
Men in the UK are three times more likely to die by suicide than women, yet most never reach out.
You don't have to be one of them.
Online therapy offers a private, flexible way to talk before things hit crisis point
I work with men facing stress, anxiety, burnout and high expectations. Here are some of the patterns I see most often.
The hidden cost of masking
You’re easy‑going and capable at work. But when you get home, the mask slips. You’re drained, short‑fused, and the people closest to you feel the fallout.
High standards, low self‑compassion
You hold yourself to impossible standards and rarely give yourself a break. You don’t want platitudes, you want clarity, structure, and tools that actually work.
Problem‑solver, stuck with yourself
You can fix complex problems for others, but when it comes to your own head, nothing shifts. Therapy can be your map: practical, structured, and judgment‑free.
About Me
I’m Kieran Barratt, a counsellor specialising in men’s mental health. I offer online counselling across the UK, as well as locally in Randalstown, Northern Ireland.
Twenty years ago I almost checked out. I hit rock bottom and tried to take my own life. Thankfully, I bounced.
Since then I’ve been through burnout, breakdowns, and long spells of depression. And here’s the thing: if you’d asked my old colleagues back then, they’d have told you I was cool, calm, collected. Never stressed. Always joking. Always fine. I was excellent at pretending everything was okay — put on the work clothes, put on the work face, and get through the day.
Now I use that experience to help other men who are tired of carrying it all alone. No two stories are the same, and I won’t pretend I know exactly what you’re going through. But I can empathise with how you’ve ended up there, because I’ve walked close enough to recognise the signs.
Before I trained as a therapist, I worked in engineering. My job was to fault‑finding, keeping things running under pressure. I was good at it, but I also learned the hard way that you can’t keep running on empty. Burnout and breakdowns caught up with me more than once.
That background shapes how I work now. I still think like a problem‑solver: I look for patterns, break things down into manageable parts, and help you find practical ways forward. But I’ve also learned that people aren’t machines. You can’t just swap out a part and carry on. Sometimes you need space, honesty, and someone who gets it.
Therapy with me is straightforward. Real conversations, not jargon. Tools you can actually use outside the room. A mix of listening, humour, and gentle challenge. I take the work seriously, but I don’t take myself too seriously. You’ll get honesty, steadiness, and the occasional laugh along the way.
While my focus is men’s therapy, I also welcome clients of all genders and identities, including LGBTQ+ people, who feel my way of working resonates with them.
Why Men Come To Therapy
A lot of men don’t walk into therapy saying “I’m depressed” or “I’m anxious.” It shows up in other ways: snapping at people, drinking more than usual, struggling to sleep, or feeling burnt out at work. Some keep the mask on so well that no one around them has a clue.
Research shows men are more likely to hide what’s really going on, and instead talk about stress, anger, or work pressure. Underneath, it’s often the same stuff: low mood, anxiety, shame, or feeling like you’re never enough.
That’s why therapy matters. It’s a place where you don’t have to keep performing, where you can drop the mask and actually figure out what’s going on
What It's Like Here
Therapy with me is straightforward. Real conversations, not jargon.
Space for honesty, humour, and the tough stuff. I’ll listen, but I’ll also nudge you when you’re stuck. You don’t need clichés, you need clarity and a space where you can drop the act, once it feels comfortable.
What You Can Expect
We’ll start with the day‑to‑day. Simple tools you can use straight away to calm things down, ways to steady your head, your sleep, your stress levels. Once you’ve got a bit of breathing space, we can look at what’s going on behind the scenes.
That might mean exploring the pressure you put on yourself, the mask you wear at work, or the weight you’ve been carrying for years. It’s not about quick fixes, but about steady shifts that make life feel lighter and more manageable.
Most of my work is with men, but I also work with women and LGBTQ+ clients who connect with my straightforward, relatable style of therapy.
What challenges therapy help with?
You don’t have to be in crisis to benefit from therapy. A lot of men come because they want to address things like the list below that are affecting their lives,
Stress, anxiety or burnout – when your head won’t switch off and you’re running on empty.
Panic attacks or overwhelm – those moments when it feels like your body’s in overdrive.
Relationship struggles – finding it hard to connect, argue less, or even talk at all.
Addiction patterns – leaning on drink, porn, or other habits to cope.
Feeling stuck or lost – knowing something’s off but not sure what to do next.
Shifts in roles – partner, parent, leader, and the pressure that comes with it.
Adjusting to change – moving abroad, relocating, or just life not looking how you thought.
Low mood or depression – when the spark’s gone and everything feels heavy.
Confidence or self‑esteem issues – second‑guessing yourself, never feeling “enough.”
Anger and irritability – snapping at the people you care about, then regretting it.
Career stress or retirement – work defining you, or wondering who you are without it.
Struggling to switch off – always “on,” never really resting
The truth is, it’s rarely just one thing that knocks you down. It’s the build‑up. Stresses pile on, often unnoticed, until the last straw takes all the blame. Therapy is about spotting what’s been stacking up and working through it piece by piece. That gives you resilience for the everyday and capacity to handle the unexpected when it comes.
Fees & sessions
I offer counselling sessions shaped around your individual needs. Sessions last 50 minutes and usually take place online through Microsoft Teams. If you’re local to Randalstown, I can also offer walk‑and‑talk therapy or a limited number of face‑to‑face appointments.
My aim is to keep therapy flexible and accessible, so you feel comfortable and supported throughout the process.
- Session fee: £50
- Payment: Bank transfer or secure payment link
If you’d like to find out more, you can send me a message or book a free 15‑minute intro call below. We can talk through what you’re looking for and find an approach that works for you.
Plan Your First Session or Book A Free Chat
Get in touch
Feel free to contact me if you have any questions about how counselling works, or to arrange an initial assessment appointment. We can have a chat about the reasons you are thinking of coming to counselling, whether it could be helpful for you and whether I am the right therapist to help.
You can also call me or send a whatsapp, on 07752 511030 if you would prefer. I am happy to discuss any queries or questions you may have prior to arranging an initial appointment.
All enquires are strictly confidential.
Find me here for more insights
© Kieran Barratt
powered by WebHealer