Zarmeena Afridi

• Stress and anxiety
• Trauma-focused work
• CBT and mindfulness

About Zarmeena

Zarmeena Afridi helps people manage stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, grief, depression and major life changes using practical, evidence-based methods. She is a registered practitioner psychologist with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and has 15 years of experience in the field.

She works collaboratively, bringing tools and structured approaches while following the client’s lead on goals and pace. Sessions focus on identifying difficulties, trying manageable strategies, and building ways to cope with intense feelings. Techniques draw on cognitive behavioural ideas, mindfulness and solution-focused methods.

Her background includes work in hospitals, community programmes, emergency response teams, substance misuse and rehabilitation services, and public health and policy projects. These roles exposed her to a wide range of situations and cultural perspectives, which she uses to inform practical responses in therapy.

Zarmeena notes personal experience of loss, anxiety and setbacks, which she says shaped her commitment to supporting others. She aims to translate that experience into clear steps people can take when feeling overwhelmed or stuck.

Typical sessions involve setting short-term goals, trying out behavioural or thinking changes, and checking what helps most. She also offers trauma-focused work for those affected by traumatic events, using focused techniques to reduce distress and improve daily functioning.

How her approaches translate to online sessions

Zarmeena commonly uses Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Trauma-Focused Therapy in her practice. CBT involves looking at unhelpful thought patterns and testing alternative ways of thinking and behaving to reduce distress and improve day-to-day functioning. Trauma-Focused Therapy concentrates on processing distressing memories and learning techniques to manage triggers and intense reactions, helping people regain control over daily life.

She also uses mindfulness practices to help people notice and tolerate difficult feelings without becoming overwhelmed. Deciding which approach to use is collaborative: the counsellor will discuss goals, preferences and what feels most useful, and will adjust methods as therapy progresses.

If you are considering online sessions, please confirm the available session formats before booking as the biography does not list specific formats. Online work can make it easier to fit counselling into a busy week, reduce travel time and allow shorter check-ins when needed. It can also suit those who prefer guided exercises, homework and structured tools that work well between meetings. Registered and accredited professionals can adapt their methods so the work remains practical and focused, whether sessions are longer or shorter to match daily life.

Topics Zarmeena lists

• Stress and anxiety
• Trauma and abuse
• Grief
• Depression
• Coping with life changes
• Abandonment
• Caregiver issues and stress
• Communication problems
• Coping with natural or human-caused disaster
• Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)
• Divorce and separation
• Guilt and shame
• Impulsivity
• Isolation and loneliness
• Life purpose
• Mood disorders
• Panic disorder and panic attacks
• Phobias
• Postpartum depression
• Post-traumatic stress
• Pregnancy and childbirth
• Self-love
• Social anxiety and phobia
• Women's issues
• Workplace issues

Ways of working

• Client-Centred Therapy
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
• Mindfulness Therapy
• Solution-Focused Therapy
• Trauma-Focused Therapy

Questions about Zarmeena

Does she work with anxiety?

Yes. Anxiety and panic attacks are listed among her main concerns and she uses cognitive behavioural approaches to help manage symptoms.

What kind of counselling does she offer?

She draws on Client-Centred Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Mindfulness Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy and Trauma-Focused Therapy to guide sessions.

How long has she been practising?

She has 15 years of professional experience working across clinical and community settings.

Is she registered with a professional body in the UK?

Yes. She is registered with the Health and Care Professions Council, shown as HCPC.

Can I have sessions in other languages?

Sessions are offered in English, Hindi, Pushto and Urdu.

Can international clients book sessions?

Yes. She accepts international clients as stated in her profile.

How much do sessions cost?

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

How do I get started with her counselling?

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