Alison Kennedy, BACP

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, or ACT, focuses on helping people notice difficult thoughts and feelings without getting overwhelmed by them and then choose actions that matter to them. It can be useful for anxiety, stress and coping with life changes. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, or CBT, looks at the links between thoughts, feelings and actions and teaches practical techniques to change unhelpful patterns; it often helps with anxiety, depression and sleep problems. Attachment-Based Therapy explores how past relationships affect current ones and aims to create safer ways of connecting with others, which can help with intimacy and relationship stress.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. Alison will talk with each person about their goals, preferences and what has or hasn’t helped before. Together they decide which methods to try and adapt those methods as therapy progresses so the plan stays relevant to the person’s needs.

Online sessions are available by video call, phone, live chat or text-based messaging, offering practical flexibility. Video calls let people work face to face without travel while phone sessions can be easier when bandwidth is limited. Live chat or messaging suits short check-ins or people who prefer typing to speaking. These options make it simpler to fit therapy around work, family and day-to-day life.