Counsellors who work with antisocial personality

This page lists counsellors and psychotherapists who specialise in Antisocial Personality. Browse profiles below to compare therapeutic approaches, credentials and languages spoken.

Use the listing to explore practitioners who work with behaviours and relationships affected by antisocial personality traits and to read more about what therapy can involve.

Understanding antisocial personality and how it can affect you

Antisocial personality refers to patterns of behaviour and ways of relating to others that tend to prioritise one person’s needs over community or interpersonal expectations. For some people this shows as a long-term difficulty with rules, impulse control and empathy. You might notice repeated conflicts with employers, problems maintaining relationships, a tendency to disregard consequences or a pattern of risk-taking behaviour. These patterns can shape how you experience work, family life and legal or social systems.

Because antisocial personality traits exist on a spectrum, the way they appear varies widely. Some people present with high energy, charm and risk-taking, while others show withdrawal or antagonism. The causes are complex and often involve a combination of childhood experience, learning, temperament and social environment. Therapy does not offer a simple fix, but it can help you understand patterns, develop alternatives to harmful behaviours and build more sustainable relationships and routines.

Signs that you or someone may benefit from therapy

You might consider talking with a counsellor or psychotherapist if you recognise ongoing patterns that cause difficulty in your life or the lives of people close to you. These signs can include repeated problems with authority, difficulty maintaining stable relationships, frequent conflicts with the law or community rules, impulsive decisions that have serious consequences, or a pattern of harming others’ trust. You may also feel dissatisfied with the outcomes of your decisions or notice that short-term gains repeatedly bring longer-term problems.

Therapy can be relevant whether you are seeking help for your own behaviour or supporting a partner, family member or friend. If you are connected to statutory services, probation, a court programme or social services, a therapist can help you understand how personal patterns interact with these systems and support you to meet conditions or personal goals. If there are concerns about safety, therapists work within professional and legal obligations to manage risk and may collaborate with other professionals where necessary.

What to expect in therapy sessions for antisocial personality

Assessment and goal-setting

The early phase of therapy typically involves assessment and establishing goals. Your counsellor or psychotherapist will ask about your history, current relationships and the behaviours that concern you. This is an opportunity to describe how your actions affect your day-to-day life and to set practical aims for change. Some people focus on reducing risky behaviour, others aim to improve relationships or manage impulses, and some want to address underlying emotions such as anger, boredom or shame.

Ongoing work and practical skills

Sessions often combine reflective conversation with practical strategies. You can expect to explore the thoughts and feelings that lead to certain behaviours and to try new ways of responding in real-life situations. This might include practising problem-solving, emotion regulation techniques, role-play to improve interpersonal skills or developing routines that reduce situations where impulsive choices arise. Therapy tends to be collaborative - you and the therapist agree next steps and review progress together.

Boundaries, safety and reviewing progress

Because some behaviours may carry risk to yourself or others, therapists discuss safety and boundaries early on. They will clarify their professional responsibilities, including circumstances where they must seek support from other agencies to protect someone’s welfare. Regular review points help you see what is changing and what still needs attention. The pace and length of work vary according to your priorities, the nature of the issues and agreements you make with your therapist.

Common therapeutic approaches used for antisocial personality

A range of therapeutic approaches is used by practitioners who work with antisocial personality. Some counsellors and psychotherapists focus on cognitive and behavioural methods that address the links between thoughts, emotions and actions. Others emphasise relational work that explores how early attachments and life experiences shape behaviour. There are also approaches that help develop mentalising - the ability to understand your own and others’ thoughts and feelings - which can be useful for managing interpersonal conflict.

When reading profiles you will see therapists who list cognitive behavioural approaches, schema-oriented work, psychodynamic psychotherapy, mentalisation-based approaches and social rehabilitation programmes among their approaches. Different models offer varied techniques: some aim to reduce impulsive acts through new coping strategies, others explore long-standing relational patterns and the emotions beneath them. It is helpful to read how a therapist describes their focus and to consider whether that emphasis matches what you hope to work on.

How online therapy works for this specialty and practical considerations

Formats and what to expect

Online therapy for antisocial personality can be delivered by video call, telephone or messaging. These formats allow you to access clinicians across the UK without travel. Sessions by video tend to most closely resemble in-person work, allowing visual cues and real-time interaction. Telephone sessions can be an alternative if video is difficult, and some therapists offer text-based exchanges as part of blended care. Therapists will usually explain their preferred platform, session length and the practical arrangements for missed appointments and emergency contact.

Data protection and safety

When you work online, you should expect clear information about data protection and how records are stored, consistent with UK regulations such as GDPR. Therapists who are registered with bodies such as BACP, HCPC or NCPS often state their registration on their profiles. Registration does not guarantee a particular outcome, but it can help you confirm that a practitioner follows recognised professional standards and codes of practice. If you have concerns about safety or risk, discuss them at the outset so you and the therapist can agree how to manage such situations within an online context.

Choosing a therapist for antisocial personality - practical tips

Compare approaches and experience

Start by deciding what you want to work on and look for therapists whose profile descriptions reflect that focus. Think about whether you want practical skills, relational exploration or a combination. Read how therapists describe their approaches and note when they say they work with specific presentations or populations. Remember that profiles list approaches practitioners use; this does not imply official certification in any single method.

Check registration and professional codes

Look for registration with recognised UK bodies such as BACP, HCPC or NCPS and read the description of the practitioner’s professional conduct. Registration indicates adherence to a code of practice and standards for record-keeping, supervision and continuing professional development. You can also note languages spoken and any experience with community, probation or statutory contexts if that is relevant to your situation.

Consider practical fit

Reflect on practical matters that influence the therapeutic relationship. Think about whether you prefer in-person or online sessions, whether appointment times fit your routine and whether you feel comfortable with the therapist’s described style. Many people find that an initial conversation by phone or a short introductory meeting helps them gauge whether a therapist’s approach feels like a good fit. If you are working within legal or statutory frameworks, you might prioritise practitioners who understand those systems and can liaise appropriately with other professionals.

Trust your judgement

Choosing a therapist is a personal decision. You should feel able to ask about how they work, how progress will be reviewed and what happens if you or they feel the therapy is not helping. Good therapeutic relationships are built on clarity about boundaries, mutual respect and a shared plan for change. Give yourself the time to find someone who aligns with your goals and whose working style supports the changes you want to make.

Therapy can be a place to experiment with different responses, to reflect on patterns and to build new skills for relating and decision-making. Whether you choose in-person or online work, the key elements are a clear plan, professional support and practical steps you can use in everyday life.