Alison French, BACP

How client-centred and trauma-focused therapy works online

Client-centred therapy is built around respectful listening and following what matters most to the person. The therapist offers empathy and gentle questions to help people understand their feelings and decide on next steps. This approach suits people wanting a supportive space to untangle stress, anxiety or questions about life direction.

Trauma-focused therapy concentrates on making sense of distressing events and reducing their ongoing impact. Work often includes grounding and breath awareness to manage strong feelings, and gentle exploration of memories when the person is ready. This can help those recovering from sexual assault or other abuse find steadier ways of coping.

Finding the right approach is part of the process and will be decided together. The therapist will work collaboratively to match methods to goals, needs and personal preferences, adjusting direction as things change.

Online sessions are offered by video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging, which gives flexibility for different situations. Video suits fuller conversation and non-verbal cues, phone can fit short check-ins or lower bandwidth, and messaging supports ongoing contact or brief reflections. These options make it easier to fit therapy around work, family or location while keeping the focus on the work you want to do.