Shelley Wilman , BACP

Shelley Wilman is a counsellor with three decades of experience working in the United Kingdom. She is a member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, BACP. Shelley combines practical methods with a people-focused stance to help clients understand the problems they bring to sessions.

Shelley describes her practice as integrative. She does not use a single method for everyone. Instead she draws on different approaches such as cognitive behavioural techniques and EMDR when these fit a person's needs. This keeps sessions adaptable and focused on what is useful right now.

Her work covers common concerns like stress, anxiety, low mood and grief. She also supports people facing trauma, abuse, relationship and intimacy-related difficulties, and struggles with self-esteem and anger. Additional areas she addresses include body image, commitment worries, communication problems and feelings of isolation or emptiness.

In sessions Shelley listens for each person's strengths and goals. She aims to help people make sense of their feelings and the choices they can make next. The emphasis is on practical steps and real conversations rather than jargon.

Taking the first step can feel daunting, and Shelley acknowledges that. She offers a calm, straightforward way into therapy, helping people articulate what matters to them and deciding together on the next steps.

How different approaches work online

Client-Centred Therapy focuses on listening and understanding. It helps people feel heard and make sense of emotions, which can be useful for depression, anxiety and self-esteem issues. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, or CBT, looks at thoughts and behaviours and introduces practical steps to change unhelpful patterns; it often helps with anxiety, stress and low mood.

Shelley uses these approaches alongside trauma-focused techniques when needed. Choosing the right approach is a shared process. The therapist will discuss goals and preferences and try methods that fit the person's situation, adjusting as work progresses.

Online sessions are offered by video call, phone, live chat or text-based messaging. Video calls are good when a fuller conversation and visual cues are helpful. Phone sessions need less bandwidth and can fit into a busy day. Live chat or messaging can be useful for brief check-ins, step-by-step problem solving or when writing feels easier than speaking. These options aim to make therapy more flexible and easier to fit into everyday life.