Ilaria Calussi, BACP

Ilaria Calussi offers practical, down-to-earth counselling for people facing relationship strain, parenting challenges, trauma, and ADHD-related difficulties. They write in plain language and aim to make sessions feel approachable and manageable. Ilaria can speak English and Italian and brings 25 years of experience in mental health settings in the United Kingdom.

Clients often come with relationship problems, attachment worries, or complex family dynamics. Ilaria listens for the patterns that keep causing pain and helps people try different ways of relating. The work often focuses on small, practical shifts people can test between sessions.

The approach combines attachment ideas with cognitive behavioural techniques and emotionally-focused ways of working. Sessions also draw on the Gottman Method when couples are involved and on narrative approaches to help people reframe difficult experiences. The focus is on what feels useful to the client in the room rather than on labels.

Ilaria has worked across the NHS and national charities, and currently holds a role at the National Autism Unit. Their background includes managing school-based services, supervising social care teams, lecturing in psychology and counselling, and running a independent practice. This range informs a flexible, system-aware way of working.

People who have experience of neurodivergence, queer relationships, or solo parenting may find Ilaria’s perspective particularly relatable. To begin, clients follow the site’s matching process and then schedule sessions according to availability.

How Ilaria’s approaches translate to online therapy

Attachment-Based Therapy focuses on how early bonds shape current relationships and emotional responses. Online work using attachment ideas helps people notice interaction patterns and practise different responses in everyday life, which can ease relationship strain.

Client-Centred Therapy puts the person’s experience at the centre and relies on listening and empathy. In remote sessions this means the counsellor follows the client’s pace and priorities, offering space to clarify feelings and choices without pressure.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) looks at links between thoughts, feelings and actions and offers practical experiments to test new ways of coping. Through guided exercises and short tasks between sessions, CBT elements can sit alongside relational work to build useful skills.

Choosing the right approach is part of the work. Ilaria discusses goals and preferences with each person and adapts methods collaboratively. That means trying things out and changing course if something does not fit.

Session formats were not specified in the supplied biography, so please confirm current options before booking. Online therapy can make it easier to fit counselling into a busy life, reduce travel time, allow quieter check-ins during a workday, or provide simpler access when attending in person is difficult. Registered or accredited professionals will discuss practical arrangements and help decide what will work best.