Hi, I’m Dominic McCabe, though most people call me Dom. My path into psychotherapy began with my own healing. I became passionate about therapy because I know what it is like to live in survival mode, feeling on edge, defensive, and as though you are constantly fighting your way through life. When I reached a point where I could not keep pushing everything down, therapy gave me something I had been searching for, space to breathe, make sense of what I had lived through, and slowly find peace again. It showed me I did not have to live with clouds of impending doom circling overhead. That experience did not just change how I felt, it changed what I believed was possible. I know how heavy life can feel when you are carrying too much alone, and my purpose is to walk alongside people as they reconnect with hope, meaning, and resilience in their own way.
Before becoming a therapist, I worked in construction. I’m proud of that chapter of my life. It taught me humility, resilience, and the value of showing up, especially on the hard days. Working in that world helped shape me into someone grounded and down to earth, and it also gave me a deep respect for the pressures people carry quietly, stress, responsibility, and the feeling that you have to just “get on with it”. I bring that real world understanding into the therapy room, alongside my professional training, so our work feels human, honest, and genuinely connected, not clinical or distant.
Outside the therapy room, I am a dad. I find a lot of peace in the ocean, and surfing reminds me how important it is to breathe, steady yourself, and ride what life brings. Roller hockey keeps me connected and energised, and my two dogs keep me present in the small moments. These parts of my life help me stay grounded, and that groundedness is something I aim to offer every client who sits with me.
I work from a core belief that every person has worth, and every person has the capacity to grow. Not because you have it all together, or because you are coping well, but because you are human. Even when life has knocked your confidence, left you feeling ashamed, or made you question yourself, you still deserve care and respect.
I also believe people make sense when we take their experiences seriously. What you do to cope, even if you do not like it, usually began for a reason. Therapy, for me, is not about judging you or fixing you. It is about creating a steady, respectful relationship where you feel safe enough to be real. From that place, we can understand what is happening, soften self criticism, and begin to build change at a pace that feels manageable.
I tailor therapy to the person in front of me. I do not believe in a one size fits all approach, and I do not work from a box ticking exercise or a manual programme. People are unique, and therapy should reflect that. I stay flexible and responsive, shaping our work around what you need, what you can manage, and what feels most helpful at the time.
For some people, therapy is about making sense of the past and how it still affects the present. For others, it is about finding practical ways to cope with what is happening right now. Often, it is a mixture of both. As we go, we can take an active approach, noticing patterns, building steadier coping tools, and strengthening resilience, self compassion, and a clearer sense of who you are.
I work with a wide range of concerns, and you do not need to fit into a particular box to come to therapy. If you are struggling, that is enough. I will meet you as a person, with compassion and without judgement, and we will take things at a pace that feels safe and manageable.
Because of my own journey into therapy, I have a particular interest in helping people who have spent years carrying things alone, and in working with those who feel stuck in survival mode. This can include the impact of trauma and long term stress, feeling different or misunderstood, coping through habits that have started to take over, and the effects of unhealthy or abusive relationships where boundaries have been worn down over time. I also have a strong interest in the patterns that can develop in parent and child relationships, and how early experiences can shape the way we cope, connect, and protect ourselves. This is also why men’s mental health matters to me, as so many men have learned to stay silent and push through. My focus is on offering a steady, respectful space where your experiences are taken seriously, and where change can feel possible again.
I am a registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and committed to their ethical framework. I also continue to develop my skills with regular training in areas such as Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST), trauma, domestic violence awareness and complex PTSD. This ongoing learning ensures that I can offer safe, professional and compassionate therapy, informed by the latest understanding in mental health and wellbeing.
If you choose to work with me, you will be welcomed into a collaborative and empowering space shaped around you. I will meet you where you are, and we will work together at a pace that feels safe and manageable. My role is to help you feel understood, to support you to make sense of what you are carrying, and to build the confidence and tools you need to move forward.
If you are considering therapy, I would be glad to hear from you. You do not need to have the perfect words, just a starting point. Together, we can explore what it means to live a life that feels safer, more grounded, and more connected.
