Anne-Marie Bates, BACP

Anne-Marie Bates welcomes people who are feeling overwhelmed by stress, anxiety, low mood or relationship strain. She aims to make the first steps easier by offering a calm, non-judgemental space and practical ways to move forward. Anne-Marie is an Accredited member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, BACP. She tailors conversations to each person’s needs and pace. That means listening first, then working together on small, achievable changes. She uses straightforward talking therapy and practical tools to help with worry, low self-worth and communication problems. Her work draws on client-centred ways of working that focus on what the person brings to sessions. Cognitive behavioural techniques are used to spot unhelpful thinking and try different coping strategies. Solution-focused methods help set and reach short-term goals so progress can be seen quickly. Anne-Marie has 12 years' experience in higher education and independent practice. During that time she has supported people with family problems, relationship difficulties, depression, self-harm thoughts, body image concerns and issues like guilt or shame. She describes her role as supportive and empowering, aiming to help people find clearer direction in life. If someone prefers gentle listening, practical tasks, or a blend of both, she adapts her approach to suit them.

How Anne-Marie’s approaches work online

Client-centred therapy focuses on the person in front of the counsellor. It gives space to talk and be heard without judgement, helping people find their own solutions and build self-understanding. Cognitive behavioural therapy, or CBT, looks at how thoughts, feelings and behaviours connect. It teaches practical skills to challenge unhelpful thinking and try different ways of coping, which can be useful for anxiety, low mood and social fears. Solution-focused therapy is goal oriented and short term. It helps people identify small steps that lead to clear improvements and keeps progress visible between sessions. Finding the right blend of approaches is part of the work. The therapist will discuss what feels most helpful and adapt methods to fit the person's needs, goals and preferences. That collaboration helps shape a clear plan rather than imposing a single method. Online counselling can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life. It can reduce travel time, allow shorter check-ins around work, or remove the need to be on camera if that feels easier. If you want to know which session formats are offered, please confirm the current options before booking so you can choose what suits you best.