Annette Buswell, BACP

Therapeutic approaches suited to online counselling

Annette uses a client-centred approach that focuses on building rapport and understanding each person’s experience. This approach supports people to talk through feelings at their own pace and helps with issues like low self‑esteem, grief and relationship difficulties.

She also draws on mindfulness therapy, which uses simple attention and breathing exercises to reduce stress and increase calm. Mindfulness can be practised in short guided exercises during a session and reinforced between appointments to help manage anxiety and day-to-day tension.

Finding the right approach is part of the work together. Annette will talk with the client about goals, preferences and what has helped in the past, then agree a plan that mixes approaches as needed. This collaborative process means the method can shift as progress is made.

Online therapy offers practical flexibility. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation when visual contact helps. Phone sessions work well if someone needs lower bandwidth or a quicker check-in. Live chat and text messaging suit short updates, written reflection or when typing feels easier than speaking. These options make it simpler to fit therapy around work, caregiving or other commitments while keeping the focus on meaningful change.