Karen Ball, BACP

Client-centred therapy starts from your priorities and feelings, with the counsellor offering empathic listening and gentle reflection to help you find your own direction. This approach suits people who need a steady, non-judgemental space to talk through difficult choices or shifts in life.

Cognitive behavioural therapy, or CBT, focuses on identifying unhelpful thinking patterns and trying practical steps to change how you feel and behave. It is often helpful for anxiety, low mood and sleep or eating difficulties because it breaks problems into manageable steps and tasks.

Mindfulness techniques help bring attention to the present moment and reduce reactivity to difficult thoughts or feelings. These can support stress management, emotional regulation and recovery from trauma when used alongside talking therapy.

Deciding which approach to use is a collaborative process. The therapist will discuss goals, try methods that fit the person's needs, and adapt plans as therapy progresses. This means the approach can change if something else seems more useful.

Online therapy offers practical benefits such as easier scheduling, less travel and the option to choose shorter check-ins by text or chat. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation when needed, phone sessions work well with lower bandwidth, and messaging can suit people who prefer writing. These formats make it easier to fit counselling into a busy life while working with a registered or accredited professional.