Jill Atkinson , BACP

Jill Atkinson is a counsellor who blends talking therapy with practical skills to help people manage stress, anxiety and low self-esteem. She holds a BACP credential and brings three years of clinical experience to her work. Jill often supports people navigating relationship strain, depression and big life changes, with attention to women's issues when relevant to the individual.

Jill trained after studying Psychology and spent time teaching abroad, which shaped her interest in how culture affects values and meaning. On returning to Scotland she worked in NHS and mental health settings and completed the SCOTACS Diploma in Counselling and Group Work - a Cognitive Behavioural Approach, qualifying as a counsellor.

She also facilitates group programmes on self-compassion, low self-esteem and managing anxiety. Additional continuing professional development includes Compassion-Focused Therapy, Transactional Analysis, Somatic Therapy, Mood and Food work and Outdoor Therapy, and she weaves elements of these into sessions where helpful.

In practical terms Jill offers an approach that encourages noticing thoughts, bodily signals and everyday habits. Sessions can include reflection, simple behavioural experiments and exercises to build self-kindness. Her aim is to help people make clearer choices, trust their own judgement and find more purposeful ways of living.

People who prefer group settings can join her themed groups, while those wanting one-to-one support can expect a straightforward conversational style. Jill works in English and sees clients in the United Kingdom as well as international clients online.

How Jill adapts therapeutic approaches for online work

Jill draws on evidence-based talking therapies alongside compassion-focused practices and somatic ideas. Compassion-focused approaches teach ways to be kinder to yourself and reduce shame and guilt, which can help with low self-esteem and isolation. Somatic-informed work asks you to notice bodily sensations and simple grounding techniques to help with anxiety and overwhelming feelings.

Finding the right approach is part of the work together. Jill aims to assess your needs, goals and preferences during early sessions and then suggests which methods to try. This is a collaborative process and she adjusts techniques if something does not fit or feel helpful.

Online therapy with Jill uses video calls, phone sessions, live chat and text messaging to suit different needs. Video calls let you meet face to face for deeper conversation and interactive exercises. Phone sessions can be good for low-bandwidth situations or when you want to avoid being on camera. Live chat and messaging offer shorter, frequent check-ins and can fit around busy days. These options make it easier to work consistently and to fit sessions into everyday life.