Amanda Barnes, BACP

Amanda Barnes offers a calm and respectful space for people who are feeling overwhelmed or unsure where to turn. She writes in a warm, straightforward way and focuses on helping individuals say what matters to them. Sessions are led by the person attending and move at a pace that feels safe and manageable.

Her style is gentle and non-judgemental. Emotions that feel painful or confusing are given attention and space. Amanda aims to help people make small, meaningful changes in how they think, feel and behave.

She provides both individual counselling and couples counselling. In couples work she helps partners talk about trust, communication and emotional closeness. Sessions look at what is getting in the way and practical steps to improve understanding between partners.

Amanda has five years' experience and is affiliated with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, BACP. She uses evidence-based therapeutic techniques to address issues such as anxiety, depression, grief, addictions, trauma and relationship difficulties.

People come to her for help with parenting strain, career stress, anger and low self-esteem as well as for support after loss. Amanda encourages clients to notice patterns in thinking and behaviour and to try small, achievable changes that build confidence and resilience.

To begin, she asks new clients to complete a short matching questionnaire and then schedule sessions according to her availability. The aim is to create a practical way to work through problems and find clearer ways forward.

Approaches that shape therapy and online support

Amanda uses evidence-based therapeutic techniques that focus on real-life change. One approach helps people identify unhelpful patterns in thinking and behaviour, and then practise alternative responses to reduce anxiety and low mood. This kind of work suits people who want clear, practical steps to feel better.

For relationship and couples work she focuses on improving communication and rebuilding trust. Sessions explore how partners relate, what gets in the way of connection and simple changes to day-to-day interaction that increase emotional closeness.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic work. Amanda will work with each person to choose methods that match their goals and preferences. She treats this as a collaborative process, checking in and adjusting the way you work together as needs evolve.

If you are considering online therapy, please confirm the available session formats before booking. Many people value the practical benefits of online work - it can fit around a busy day, make it easier to keep regular sessions and reduce travel time. Online sessions can also allow for shorter check-ins when schedules are tight or for options that do not require being on camera, which can help on days when concentration or bandwidth is limited.