Anne-Marie Bates , BACP

Anne-Marie Bates is a counsellor who helps people manage stress, anxiety, relationship and family concerns, and low mood. She works in a calm, non-judgemental way and aims to make the first steps towards change feel clear and do-able. She is an Accredited member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, BACP, and brings 12 years of practice to her work.

Her approach begins by listening closely to what matters to each person. Sessions are shaped around the issues someone brings, whether that is trouble with self-esteem, repeated arguments, or feeling stuck. Practical strategies and straightforward talk are used so people can try things between sessions.

Anne-Marie has spent time supporting students and staff at a college of higher education and has also worked in private practice. That mix means she has experience with a range of life situations and everyday pressures. She aims to treat everyone with respect, sensitivity and compassion.

She often helps people with concerns such as body image, communication problems, guilt and shame, loneliness, and questions about life purpose. Work can include short-term solution-focused planning or longer discussions to untangle deeper patterns.

Sessions are tailored to each person’s needs and pace. The focus is on clear goals, practical steps and building the skills needed to feel more confident and connected in daily life.

Therapeutic approaches and online support

Client-Centred Therapy focuses on listening and understanding each person without judgement. This approach helps people feel heard and clarifies what they want to change in their life.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, or CBT, looks at the links between thoughts, feelings and actions. It offers practical techniques to reduce anxiety, manage low mood and shift unhelpful patterns.

Solution-Focused Therapy concentrates on small, achievable steps and clear goals. It is useful when someone wants quicker ways to move forward and try new strategies between sessions.

Deciding which approach to use is a joint process. The therapist will work with each person to match methods to their needs, goals and preferences. This means plans can change as progress is made and new priorities appear.

Online sessions can be offered by registered or accredited professionals using video calls, phone sessions, live chat or text messaging. Video calls allow fuller conversation when face-to-face style contact helps, while phone calls are useful if bandwidth is limited or someone prefers not to be on camera. Live chat and text messaging suit shorter check-ins or people who find written communication easier. These options aim to make therapy more flexible and easier to fit into everyday life.