Diane Rathfield, BACP

Diane Rathfield is a counsellor and a registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). She has four years of professional practice and more than 25 years of experience supporting people in caring roles. Diane helps with worries like stress, anxiety, low self-esteem, motivation blocks and work-related concerns. She also supports people facing big life changes and those living with grief, addiction, sleeping or eating difficulties.

Diane aims to build a calm, non-judgemental space where clients can talk through what matters to them. Sessions are conversational and focused on practical steps the person can try between meetings. She listens for patterns that keep problems repeating and works with each person to find small changes that add up.

Her practice also covers challenges such as anger, bipolar and depression, ADHD, compassion fatigue and relationship concerns. Additional focus areas include attachment issues, body image, chronic illness and caregiver stress. Diane describes herself as supportive and approachable, and she encourages realistic, manageable goals.

Her BACP membership identifies her professional standing in the United Kingdom. Diane draws on a range of evidence-based therapeutic techniques to suit different needs rather than following a single method. She explains options clearly so people can make informed choices about their care.

Taking the first step often feels difficult, and Diane offers steady support through that early period. She works collaboratively to set priorities, review progress and adapt the plan as things change.

Approaches that shape online work

Diane uses evidence-based therapeutic techniques that aim to help people manage symptoms and make practical changes. One common approach focuses on identifying unhelpful thought patterns and trying simple experiments to test them; this helps with worry, low mood and motivation problems. Another approach she draws on looks at how current problems link to past experiences and relationships, then works on building new ways of relating and responding in everyday life; this can be useful for attachment issues, relationship difficulties and some forms of trauma.

Choosing the right approach is part of the work together. Diane discusses options with each person and tailors methods to their goals, preferences and what feels manageable. The process is collaborative, with regular check-ins to see what is helping and what needs adjusting.

Please confirm the session formats offered before booking, as the biography does not specify them. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions around work, family and travel commitments, and it can reduce the time spent travelling. Some people find shorter check-ins by phone useful when time is tight, while others prefer longer video conversations to cover more material. A little flexibility often helps therapy fit into everyday life.