Dr. Pegah Houshmand , HCPC

Dr. Pegah Houshmand is a HCPC-registered practitioner psychologist with 12 years of experience in the UK. She holds a doctorate in counselling psychology and has worked in both the NHS and private settings. She focuses on helping people manage stress, anxiety, depression and relationship concerns, including issues related to women's lives and LGBT experiences.

Her approach draws on several evidence-based models to match what each person needs. Sessions are collaborative - the counsellor listens, helps you clarify goals, and chooses practical steps that feel manageable. She offers a calm, non-judgemental space where people can speak honestly about painful experiences and small successes.

Dr Houshmand often uses techniques that help people notice and change unhelpful thoughts and behaviours, repair important relationships, and build values-based direction. She also works with trauma, grief, addictions and difficulties around intimacy and body image. Her practice includes attention to complex situations such as co-morbidity, chronic illness, and caregiver strain.

She has clinical experience with life-stage challenges like career shifts, parenting stress and coping with major change. The sessions can include practical skills, emotional processing and planning for day-to-day improvement. She also has a sustained interest in eating-related difficulties and how pressures affect coping strategies.

Therapy is offered in English and is available to clients in the UK and internationally. Sessions are delivered via video calls, phone, live chat or text messaging and operate on a cancellable subscription model.

Therapeutic approaches for online counselling

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) encourages people to notice difficult thoughts and feelings without getting pushed around by them, and to take steps that align with their values. It can help with anxiety, low mood and life changes by focusing on small, value-driven actions.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) works with the links between thoughts, feelings and behaviour to reduce distress. It is often used for anxiety, depression, panic and unhelpful coping habits by teaching practical strategies and behavioural experiments.

Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT) concentrates on relationship patterns and emotional bonding. It helps people understand attachment dynamics and improve emotional connection in close relationships.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will talk with clients about their goals and preferences and suggest methods that might suit them. That choice is revisited as progress is made so the plan stays relevant and collaborative.

Online therapy offers practical flexibility. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation and visual cues. Phone sessions can be easier when video is not possible or bandwidth is limited. Live chat and text messaging suit shorter check-ins, quick reflections or when someone prefers writing to speaking. These options make it simpler to fit therapy around work, caregiving or travel and let clients continue care when relocation or busy schedules would otherwise cause disruption.