Bridget O'Toole , BACP

Bridget O'Toole is a counsellor registered with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, with five years of professional experience in the UK. She focuses on practical help for people dealing with stress, anxiety, work burnout and life changes. Bridget also supports people facing issues related to ADHD, addictions, trauma, grief and self-esteem.

Bridget adapts each session to the person in front of her. She works in a client-centred way, which means sessions follow the client’s pace and priorities. Many people find this approach makes it easier to talk about difficult topics and to set small, manageable goals.

She draws on emotionally-focused and solution-focused ideas to help people process strong feelings and to find practical steps forward. Narrative and existential approaches are used when someone wants to make sense of life events or to explore personal meaning.

Bridget has experience with a wide range of concerns, including relationship problems, eating and body image issues, compassion fatigue and post-traumatic stress. She also supports people coping with chronic illness, communication difficulties and the practical strains of caregiving.

Sessions are tailored so they feel comfortable and useful. Bridget emphasises steady progress rather than quick fixes. She encourages honest conversation, clear goals and regular review so people can see how things are changing over time.

Therapeutic approaches and online support

Bridget uses client-centred work to make sessions respond to each person’s priorities. This means the client sets the pace and Bridget follows, focusing on what feels most important in the moment. Emotionally-Focused Therapy helps when strong feelings are getting in the way - it supports recognising and naming emotions so they become easier to manage. Solution-Focused Therapy looks at practical steps and small changes that can be tried between sessions to build momentum and reduce immediate stress.

Choosing the best approach is a collaborative process. Bridget will talk through options with clients and together they will decide what to try first based on goals, needs and personal preference. Plans are revisited regularly so the method can change as progress unfolds.

Online therapy offers flexibility in how and when people meet. Video calls are useful for a fuller conversational experience, phone sessions work well when bandwidth is limited, live chat can be helpful for quick check-ins and text-based messaging lets people reflect in writing between meetings. These options make it easier to fit counselling around work, family or mobility needs and can help maintain continuity when circumstances change.