Simon Barkley

• Stress and anxiety
• Addiction support
• CBT and client-centred

About Simon

Simon Barkley works on stress, anxiety, addiction, anger, self esteem, relationship and family issues, trauma and abuse, grief, sleep problems, career concerns and coping with life changes. He uses a pluralistic approach that draws on client-centred work, cognitive behavioural methods and motivational interviewing to help people make practical changes. Simon is registered with the BACP and has eight years of professional experience.

Simon speaks plainly in sessions and treats the person, not just the problem. He asks about a person's goals, looks for strengths they already have, and suggests small experiments to try between meetings. Sessions include talking things through and using practical exercises to reduce unhelpful patterns of thinking and behaviour.

He has worked with people affected by addiction, anger, bereavement, trauma and motivation and self-esteem difficulties. That experience shaped his focus on clear coping strategies and steady progress rather than quick fixes. Simon also supports people dealing with relationship difficulties, separation and communication problems.

In practice he blends client-centred listening with goal-focused CBT and motivational techniques. The mix aims to help people notice patterns, test new ways of relating and build skills that make everyday life easier. He also draws on existential ideas to help people consider meaning and values where that feels relevant.

Sessions are offered in English and he accepts international clients. Fees vary with location and use a subscription model that can be cancelled at any time. To begin, users complete a short matching questionnaire and schedule a first session via the Talk to a counsellor online button.

How his approaches work in online sessions

Simon often uses client-centred therapy and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) in online work. Client-centred therapy focuses on listening and understanding a person's perspective, which helps when someone needs space to talk through feelings and decisions. CBT looks at thinking and behaviour patterns and introduces practical exercises to try between sessions, which can help with anxiety, low mood and sleep problems.

He may also use motivational interviewing to help people find and strengthen reasons for change, which is useful for addiction and motivation difficulties. Deciding which approaches to use is a collaborative process: the counsellor and client review needs, goals and preferences and agree a plan together, adjusting it as progress is made.

Confirm the exact session formats available before booking. Practical benefits of online work include fitting sessions around work or family life, easier access for international clients and the ability to choose quieter surroundings that suit the individual. Some online sessions may be shorter or use phone rather than video to match the task at hand, so format can be chosen to make therapy manageable alongside everyday commitments.

Topics Simon lists

• Stress and anxiety
• Addictions
• Anger management
• Self-esteem
• Coping with life changes
• Relationship issues
• Family conflicts
• Trauma and abuse
• Grief
• Sleeping disorders
• Career difficulties
• Depression
• Coaching
• Compassion fatigue
• Abandonment
• Antisocial personality
• Attachment issues
• Avoidant personality
• Co-morbidity
• Codependency
• Commitment issues
• Communication problems
• Control issues
• Dependent personality
• Dissociation
• Divorce and separation
• Domestic violence
• Drug and alcohol addiction
• Eating and food-related issues
• Emptiness
• Forgiveness
• Guilt and shame
• Hoarding
• Hospice and end-of-life counselling
• Impulsivity
• Infidelity
• Isolation and loneliness
• Jealousy
• Life purpose
• Men's issues
• Midlife crisis
• Veteran and armed forces issues
• Mood disorders
• Narcissism
• Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD
• Panic disorder and panic attacks
• Paranoia
• Personality disorders
• Phobias
• Post-traumatic stress
• Process addictions
• Self-harm
• Self-love
• Sex addiction
• Sexuality
• Social anxiety and phobia
• Workplace issues
• Young adult issues

Ways of working

• Client-Centred Therapy
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
• Existential Therapy
• Gottman Method
• Motivational Interviewing
• Narrative Therapy
• Solution-Focused Therapy

Questions about Simon

Does he work with anxiety and stress?

Yes. He helps people with stress and anxiety using practical strategies and talking-based work.

What kind of counselling does he offer?

He uses a pluralistic mix including client-centred therapy, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), motivational interviewing and existential ideas.

What experience does he have?

He has eight years of professional experience working with issues such as addiction, anger, bereavement and self-esteem.

Is he a member of a professional body and where is he based?

He is registered with the BACP and is based in the United Kingdom.

Can I have sessions in a language other than English?

Sessions are offered in English.

Does he work with international clients?

Yes. He accepts international clients.

How much do sessions cost?

Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be cancelled at any time.

How do I get started with him?

Click the Talk to a counsellor online button, complete a short matching questionnaire and schedule a first session.