Cheryl Bellingham , BACP

Cheryl Bellingham is a counsellor who supports people facing relationship difficulties, trauma and abuse, grief, anxiety and depression. She also helps with stress, low self-esteem, parenting concerns and intimacy-related issues. Cheryl brings five years of experience and is registered with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP).

Her approach is straightforward and calm. She aims to create a space where people can be heard and make sense of painful experiences. Sessions focus on what is happening now and what practical steps can help in day-to-day life.

Cheryl uses client-centred work to follow each person’s pace and priorities. She pairs this with cognitive behavioural techniques to spot unhelpful thinking and try different behaviour patterns. Motivational interviewing helps when someone feels stuck and wants to find reasons to change.

When trauma is involved, Cheryl uses trauma-focused approaches to address difficult memories and reactions in a gradual way. She pays attention to practical coping strategies for sleep problems, anger, and emotional overwhelm. The aim is to reduce immediate distress and build longer-term coping skills.

People come to Cheryl for many issues, including caregiving stress, chronic illness, bereavement, ADHD, relationship breakdown and career strain. She offers video calls, phone sessions, live chat and text-based messaging to suit different needs. The first step is a short matching questionnaire and then scheduling around availability.

Approaches that translate well to online therapy

Client-Centred Therapy focuses on listening and following the person’s lead. The counsellor reflects what is said, helps a person clarify priorities, and supports them to set their own goals. This approach is useful for building trust and for people who need time to find words for their experience.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, or CBT, looks at the link between thoughts, feelings and actions. It uses short exercises and behavioural experiments to test different ways of thinking and acting. CBT is helpful for anxiety, depression, sleep problems and unhelpful behaviour patterns.

Finding the best approach is part of the work together. The counsellor will discuss options and try methods that fit the person’s needs and preferences. This is a collaborative process and plans are adjusted as progress is made.

Online sessions provide practical flexibility. Video calls let people see non-verbal cues and work in a conversational way. Phone sessions need less bandwidth and can be easier if being on camera feels difficult. Live chat or text-based messaging suit shorter check-ins, stepped support, or times when typing helps someone think more clearly.