Gillian Hartley, BACP, NCPS

Gillian Hartley helps people feeling overwhelmed by stress, anxiety and low mood. She supports those coping with relationship difficulties, trauma and abuse, grief and loss, and eating and body-image concerns. She also works with anger, self-esteem struggles and major life changes. Gillian brings a calm, respectful approach to each session.

Gillian uses a blend of practical talking methods to suit each person. She starts by listening to what matters most, then works with the client to set clear goals. Sessions focus on small, manageable steps that build confidence and reduce distress.

Her style is warm and straightforward. Conversations are shaped around the client’s pace and what feels useful that week. She aims to make therapy easy to follow, with tools you can try between sessions.

Gillian draws on Client-Centred Therapy to keep the dialogue person-focused, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help shift unhelpful thoughts and behaviours, and Solution-Focused Therapy for goal-oriented work. These approaches are combined as needed to match the individual’s situation.

She has eight years of professional experience and holds BACP and NCPS credentials. Gillian practises in the United Kingdom and works to make therapy practical and relevant to everyday life.

How these approaches translate to online therapy

Client-Centred Therapy focuses on the person and their experience. A counsellor follows the client’s lead, offers empathy and helps the person reflect on what they want to change. This approach suits people who need a supportive space to make sense of feelings.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, looks at the links between thoughts, feelings and behaviours. It breaks down problems into manageable steps and introduces practical exercises to try between sessions. CBT is often used for anxiety, low mood and unhelpful behaviour patterns.

Solution-Focused Therapy concentrates on setting clear, short-term goals and identifying strengths that help reach them. Sessions tend to be action-oriented and useful when someone wants quick, focused progress.

Finding the right approach is part of the process. The therapist will work collaboratively to choose methods that match the client’s needs, goals and preferences. That may mean using one method predominantly or mixing elements from different approaches.

If you are considering online work, check which session formats the therapist currently offers before booking. Confirming options helps you plan how therapy fits around work, childcare and daily routines. Online sessions can make it easier to fit appointments into a busy week, allow shorter check-ins when needed and reduce travel time so therapy becomes more workable.