Linda Mather (nee Spencer) , BACP

Linda Mather (nee Spencer) is a BACP-registered counsellor with 26 years of clinical experience. She has written counselling and self-help books and works as a trainer and clinical supervisor. She uses that background to offer grounded, practical support for people facing emotional strain.

Her practice takes an integrative approach. That means she draws on several methods and adapts them to the needs of each person. Sessions focus on clear goals and straightforward strategies alongside space to talk and reflect.

People come to her for a wide range of issues including stress, anxiety, depression, addictions and trauma. She also helps with relationship and intimacy-related concerns, parenting strain, grief and workplace or career pressures. Specialist interests include attachment difficulties, adoption and foster care matters, chronic illness and caregiver stress.

Linda aims to build a warm, collaborative relationship. She listens first and then works with clients to agree practical steps and coping tools. The process is paced to each person’s situation and readiness.

Therapy can include thinking and behaviour-focused techniques, emotion work and skills drawn from acceptance-based and dialectical approaches. Sessions can also involve coaching-style conversations for people who want focused change and problem-solving.

Sessions are offered in English and are open to international clients. Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat and text messaging, and scheduling is arranged after a short matching questionnaire and booking step.

Approaches and online therapy options

Linda commonly draws on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in online work. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people notice thoughts and feelings without getting stuck in them and then take actions that match their values. ACT can be useful for anxiety, depression and coping with life changes.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on spotting unhelpful thoughts and patterns and trying practical experiments to change behaviour. CBT is often used for anxiety, low mood, stress and some eating or addictive behaviours.

Choosing the right approach usually happens together. The therapist will ask about your goals, preferences and daily life and then suggest a way forward. That recommendation is checked in with you and adapted as you progress so the work stays useful and relevant.

Online therapy offers flexible ways to meet. Video calls are good for face-to-face conversation and working through exercises together. Phone sessions can fit into a short break or when bandwidth is limited. Live chat and text messaging can be used for brief check-ins, homework follow-up and ongoing support between sessions. These options help people balance therapy with work, family and travel.