Saima Qaiyum, BACP

Saima uses client-centred therapy to prioritise the client’s experience and pace. That approach means she listens carefully, reflects what she hears and helps people feel understood before suggesting changes. It is useful when someone needs time to understand their feelings and reactions.

She also uses cognitive behavioural therapy, or CBT, which looks at how thoughts, feelings and behaviours interact. CBT includes practical exercises and small experiments to try between sessions and often helps with anxiety, low mood and unhelpful coping habits.

Solution-focused therapy is another strand of her work and concentrates on setting clear, achievable goals. This approach is helpful when someone wants short-term progress, practical steps and measurable change.

Finding the right blend is part of the process. Saima collaborates with each person to choose approaches that match their needs, goals and preferences. She checks in regularly and adapts techniques according to progress and feedback.

Online therapy offers practical flexibility. Video calls let people maintain visual contact, while phone sessions can work better when bandwidth is limited or a quieter audio-only check-in is needed. Live chat and text messaging suit shorter check-ins, note-taking during sessions or people who prefer not to be on camera. These options make it easier to fit therapy around work, childcare and travel, and allow therapists and clients to continue work across distance.