Lyndsey McCartney, BACP, NCPS

Client-centred therapy focuses on understanding each person’s experience and creating a safe space to talk. It helps when someone needs to be heard and to feel understood before making changes.

Cognitive behavioural therapy, or CBT, looks at links between thoughts, feelings and behaviour. It is practical and helps with problems like anxiety, low mood and unhelpful habits by teaching simple skills to try between sessions.

Mindfulness therapy teaches ways to notice thoughts and feelings without getting swept away by them. It can reduce reactivity and make everyday stress easier to manage.

Choosing the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will talk with the client about their goals, preferences and what feels most helpful. This is a collaborative process and plans can change as progress is made.

Online therapy offers practical flexibility. Video calls let face-to-face conversation when that feels useful. Phone sessions need less bandwidth and can be easier to fit around work or caregiving. Live chat and text-based messaging provide shorter check-ins and written reflection when a person prefers not to use audio or video. Registered and accredited professionals can adapt methods to each format so people can access support in ways that fit their life.