Wendy Stirling, BACP

Wendy Stirling is a counsellor practising in the United Kingdom who helps people facing stress, anxiety, depression and major life changes. She also supports those dealing with trauma, relationship and intimacy issues, grief, parenting strain and concerns linked to ageing and geriatric issues. Wendy aims to make the first step into therapy feel manageable and respectful. Wendy draws on ten years of professional experience and a background of personal therapeutic work that spans several years. She combines different ways of working to match each person’s situation rather than using one fixed method. Conversations focus on what matters most to the individual and on practical steps they can try between sessions. Her approach includes acceptance and commitment ideas, attachment-based thinking and client-centred conversation. Cognitive behavioural techniques and emotion-focused work also feature when they fit the client’s goals. Wendy explains options clearly and invites feedback so the work stays relevant and useful. Sessions tend to be collaborative and paced to the person’s needs. She listens for patterns such as low self-esteem, difficulty communicating, or caregiving stress, and then helps people try manageable changes. Treatment plans are adapted over time as priorities shift. Wendy emphasises respect, sensitivity and compassion in every session. She asks people to describe their goals, then builds a plan that feels achievable. The overall aim is more clarity, better day-to-day coping and gradual movement toward the life someone wants.

How therapeutic approaches work for online sessions

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy helps people notice painful thoughts and feelings without being driven by them, then commit to small actions that reflect personal values. It can be useful for anxiety, low mood and life changes. Attachment-Based Therapy looks at patterns from early relationships that affect how someone connects now and helps people try new, safer ways of relating. It can be helpful for intimacy, trust and caregiving stress.

Choosing the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will discuss goals and preferences and suggest which methods to try first. That choice is reviewed together so the plan stays relevant as needs change.

If you are considering online therapy, check the session formats before booking as the profile does not list specific options. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life, for example by avoiding travel, allowing sessions during lunch breaks, or reducing time away from caregiving duties. Some formats are better for brief check-ins while others suit longer conversations or emotion-focused work, so Wendy will help decide what fits best for your situation.