FindGottmanTherapists

The therapist listings come from BetterHelp. We will earn a commission if you sign up through our link, at no cost to you.

SL Portrait of Shem Lopez

Shem Lopez

Relationship and anxiety counsellor

NCPS United Kingdom

Experience
12 years in practice
Focus areas
Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse, LGBT
Approaches
Gottman Method, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Languages
English
Continue with Shem

About Shem

Shem Lopez is a counsellor who helps people feeling overwhelmed by stress, anxiety, depression or relationship strain. He works with adults seeking clearer choices, calmer reactions and more satisfying connections.

Background and approach

Sessions are offered in English and can happen online or in person in the United Kingdom. Shem uses a mix of approaches to match each person's needs.

He focuses on helping clients spot patterns in thinking and feeling. That makes it easier to choose different responses in tense moments.

He encourages people to name what matters to them and use those values as a guide for action. He has particular experience supporting people facing panic attacks, trauma, anger and psychosexual difficulties.

He also helps with relationship and intimacy issues and the day-to-day impact of anxiety and depression. Work may include looking at attachment and how past experiences shape current behaviour.

These tools are used alongside talking therapy to build awareness and practical coping skills. He has worked in independent practice since 2012 and brings 12 years of experience to his work.

Clients can expect straightforward conversation, practical exercises and collaborative goal-setting to support change. Sessions typically involve relaxed, focused conversations that balance emotional understanding with practical steps.

Shem aims to help people feel steadier and more able to move towards the life they value.

Approaches that translate well to online therapy

Gottman-informed work focuses on how partners communicate and reconnect. It uses structured conversations and practical exercises to help people change interaction patterns and rebuild trust in relationships.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, or ACT, helps people notice thoughts and feelings without getting stuck in them. It emphasises values-based action so someone can move towards a life that matters to them despite difficult emotions.

Emotionally-Focused Therapy, or EFT, pays attention to the emotional bond and how attachment needs shape reactions. It is useful for people wanting to understand and shift deep emotional patterns in close relationships.

Choosing the right approach is part of therapy. Shem works collaboratively to decide which methods fit a person’s goals, needs and preferences. That choice can change as therapy progresses and new priorities emerge.

Online sessions make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation and exercises, phone sessions need less bandwidth and can be a good shorter check-in, and live chat or text messaging suit people who prefer writing or want flexible, on-the-go support. These options help clients access consistent care across time zones and locations.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does he commonly help with?
He supports people with stress, anxiety, depression, panic attacks and trauma. He also helps with relationship strain, intimacy issues, eating concerns, parenting stress and workplace difficulties.
What is his therapeutic style like?
Sessions are collaborative and practical. He blends talking therapy with exercises to build awareness, manage difficult emotions and change unhelpful patterns.
How much experience does he have?
He has 12 years of clinical experience, working in independent practice since 2012 with adults on a range of emotional and relationship issues.
What credentials and location are on record?
He is listed with the credential NCPS and practises in the United Kingdom.
Which languages and international arrangements are available?
Sessions are offered in English, and he accepts clients from outside the UK for online work.
What session formats does he offer?
He works via video calls, phone sessions, live chat and text-based messaging, as well as in-person meetings in the UK when appropriate.
How are fees handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions are provided through a subscription model that can be cancelled at any time.
How do I begin if I want to work with him?
Begin by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete the short matching questionnaire and then schedule sessions according to therapist availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, AnxietyTrauma and abuse

Also works with

LGBTRelationship issuesIntimacy-related issuesEating disordersParenting issuesAnger managementSelf esteemDepressionCoping with life changesCoachingCompassion fatigue

Additional focus areas

AbandonmentAttachment issuesGuilt and shameImpulsivityIsolation / lonelinessLife purposeMen's issuesMidlife crisisPanic disorder and panic attacksPost-traumatic stressSelf-loveSexualitySocial anxiety and phobiaWorkplace issues

Therapeutic approaches

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)Gottman MethodHypnotherapyImago Relationship TherapyMindfulness TherapyTrauma-Focused TherapyInternal Family Systems

Experience

12+ years

Registered with

NCPS

Languages

English