Heli Annika Giles, BACP

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people notice difficult thoughts and feelings without getting stuck in them, then choose actions that match their values. It can be useful for anxiety, depression and coping with life changes. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) looks at connections between thoughts, feelings and behaviours and offers practical tools to reduce unhelpful thinking and manage anxiety or low mood. Client-Centred Therapy focuses on an accepting, non-judgemental relationship where the client sets the pace and topics; it helps people explore identity, belonging and self-worth.

Finding the right mix of approaches is part of the therapy process. Heli works with clients to decide which methods fit their goals, needs and preferences. That collaboration means sessions can focus on immediate coping skills one week and deeper exploration the next, depending on what feels most helpful.

Online therapy lets people access consistent support without travel. Video calls are close to face-to-face work and suit in-depth conversations. Phone sessions need less bandwidth and can be good for a low-key check-in. Live chat and text messaging allow short, flexible exchanges and quick reflections between sessions. These options make it easier to fit therapy around work, study and caregiving commitments.