Deborah Thorley , BACP, NCPS

Deborah Thorley is a counsellor based in the United Kingdom with 16 years of experience. She is registered with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and the National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society (NCPS). Deborah supports people coping with stress, anxiety, low self-esteem and depression. She also helps with relationship difficulties, grief, trauma and issues around intimacy and addiction.

Her background includes work with adults and young people across a wide range of concerns. Deborah listens without judgement and helps people name what they are feeling. She aims to make sessions straightforward and practical so people can try new ways of coping between meetings.

Deborah draws on approaches such as cognitive behavioural techniques and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to help people notice unhelpful patterns and try different actions. She also uses attachment-based ideas to look at how early relationships affect current ones. When relationship work is needed she can apply elements of the Gottman method to improve communication and connection.

Sessions can take place by video call, phone, live chat or text-based messaging, whichever suits the person best. Deborah works collaboratively to set clear goals and next steps in a way that feels manageable. Her aim is to support steady, realistic progress rather than quick fixes.

If someone wants to begin, the process involves a short matching questionnaire and then scheduling a first session. The subscription model for sessions can be cancelled at any time and cost will vary by location and schedule.

How Deborah’s approaches translate to online therapy

Deborah uses cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) to help people spot unhelpful thought patterns and try small behavioural changes. CBT is often used for anxiety, low mood and sleeping problems and focuses on practical steps that can be tested between sessions.

She also draws on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), which helps people notice difficult thoughts and feelings while focusing on actions that match their values. ACT can be useful for coping with ongoing stress, life changes and chronic worry.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. Deborah will talk through your goals and preferences and together you will choose methods that feel suitable. This collaborative process means the plan can change if something is not helping.

Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat and text-based messaging. Video calls allow face-to-face discussion when visual cues matter. Phone sessions can be easier when bandwidth is limited or a shorter check-in is needed. Live chat and messaging suit people who prefer writing or want flexible, ongoing contact between sessions. These options make it easier to fit therapy around work, parenting and daily life.