Our team at The McGilligan Practice
The McGilligan Practice is a psychological therapy and wellbeing service providing counselling, psychotherapy, and structured support for people experiencing emotional distress, neurodiversity, and complex life challenges.
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Our clinical work is led by Charlotte McGilligan, Clinical Director, a BACP-registered counsellor and psychotherapist. Charlotte leads all clinical standards, safeguarding and therapeutic practice across the service.
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Alongside this, the practice is supported by Karl McGilligan, Director of Strategy & Partnerships, who leads on pathway development, partnerships, and integration with organisations, public services, and community partners. His background in public health and system leadership supports the design of services that reduce crisis, improve access, and support functional recovery.
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All clinical care is delivered by appropriately qualified and registered clinicians working within clear professional and ethical frameworks. ​We work with people whose needs may be short-term or long-standing, simple or layered. Some benefit from ongoing psychotherapy that focuses on emotional understanding, relationships, and personal growth. Others need steadier, more structured support to help contain distress, understand risk, or stabilise before moving into deeper therapeutic work.
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Our approach is evidence-informed, thoughtful, and proportionate. We prioritise safety, dignity, and clarity, working at a pace that respects each person’s capacity and circumstances. ​We do not replace statutory or emergency services. Instead, we provide structured psychological support that complements existing care, supports appropriate engagement with services, and helps reduce avoidable escalation.
Charlotte
Clinical Director | Psychotherapist
BACP-Registered | MSc Psychotherapeutic Counselling
My name is Charlotte, and I am a BACP-registered counsellor and psychotherapist based in Shropshire, and the founder of The McGilligan Practice. I hold an MSc in Psychotherapeutic Counselling and work within established professional and ethical frameworks.
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As an integrative therapist, I am trained in several therapeutic approaches, including person-centred therapy, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), psychodynamic therapy, attachment theory, and gestalt therapy. This allows me to tailor the work to your individual needs and draw on the approach that best supports you at any given time. I recognise that every client is unique, and what is helpful for one person may not be right for another.
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​I offer a calm, confidential, and non-judgemental space where you can explore whatever challenges you are facing, whether you are navigating current difficulties or wanting to make sense of past experiences. Together, we can reflect on where you are, what feels difficult or uncertain, and what changes you would like to work toward. My aim is to support you in developing greater clarity, confidence, and resilience, helping you move toward a more balanced and fulfilling life.
Choosing a therapist can feel daunting, and taking the first step often takes courage. I offer a free initial consultation where we can discuss what you’re seeking support with, what you hope to achieve from therapy, and any questions you may have. I believe therapy is most effective when both client and therapist feel comfortable and connected, and I place great importance on creating a safe and supportive therapeutic relationship where meaningful change can occur.
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In our sessions, we will focus on what matters most to you. I will listen with care, curiosity, and respect as we work together to understand your experiences and support you in moving toward the life you want to live.
Karl
Director of Strategy & Partnerships
HCPC-Registered | Master of Public Health (MPH)
Karl is the Director of Strategy and Partnerships at The McGilligan Practice. He leads on growth, commissioning relationships, pathway design, and integration with public services, employers, and community partners.
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His work focuses on developing and scaling psychological pathways that address system pressures such as:
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High-intensity service users (HISU)
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Emergency Department avoidance
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Crisis prevention and stabilisation
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Loneliness and isolation
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Functional recovery and return to stability​
Karl’s background is in public health, system leadership, and risk management. He has held senior and consultant-level leadership roles within the NHS, including Associate Director posts, giving him deep understanding of how health and care systems function and how people experience them when they are in distress, excluded, or repeatedly escalating.​
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His Master of Public Health (MPH) underpins his approach. He applies population-level evidence, behavioural science, and inequality insight to the design of services that are:
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Preventative rather than reactive
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Focused on early stabilisation
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Designed to reduce avoidable crisis use
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Accessible to people facing barriers to care
Karl leads the development of The McGilligan Practice’s commissioned pathways, working with:
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Integrated Care Boards
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Local Authorities
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NHS providers
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Employers and third-sector partners
His role includes:
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Designing pathway models (Stabilise, Avoid, Connect, Recover)
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Building commissioning and partnership relationships
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Supporting governance, risk, and assurance frameworks
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Aligning services to system priorities and outcomes
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Translating clinical excellence into scalable, sustainable services
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Karl's work is driven by a belief that good mental health care must sit within good systems, systems that are fair, accessible, preventative, and capable of responding to complexity without defaulting to crisis.