Lionel Hunter, NCPS

Client-Centred Therapy focuses on listening and understanding the person's experience. In practice this means the therapist reflects concerns back, validates emotions and helps the person make sense of what matters most. It is useful for building trust, working through identity matters and exploring relationship or grief issues.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, or CBT, looks at the links between thoughts, feelings and actions. It uses practical exercises to test unhelpful beliefs and try different behaviours. CBT is often used for anxiety, panic, phobias, obsessive thoughts and low mood because it gives concrete steps to practise between sessions.

Emotionally-Focused Therapy helps people identify and sit with strong emotions and change patterns in close relationships. It can be helpful where intimacy, attachment or recurring conflict are concerns. Lionel blends elements of these approaches to match the needs people bring.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will discuss goals, preferences and what feels most useful. Together they decide which methods to try and adjust the plan as progress is made.

Online therapy offers practical flexibility. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation when that is helpful. Phone sessions work well for shorter check-ins or when bandwidth is limited. Live chat and text-based messaging suit people who prefer written check-ins, concise updates or support between sessions. These options make it easier to fit therapy around work, family and daily life.