Amanda Barnes, BACP

Amanda Barnes welcomes people who are taking the first step toward counselling and recognises how difficult that can feel. She creates a calm, respectful space where individuals and couples can talk about what is troubling them without judgement. Amanda offers a gentle, compassionate style that honours each person’s unique experience and allows emotions to be explored at a pace that feels comfortable to the client.

Amanda sees counselling as an opportunity to examine thoughts, feelings and behaviours in order to support meaningful change. She works collaboratively, letting the client lead sessions while offering guidance and reflection rather than directives. In addition to individual work, Amanda provides couples counselling focused on repairing trust, improving communication and strengthening emotional intimacy. She helps partners identify what is happening between them and builds self-awareness to improve mutual understanding.

Amanda supports people with a wide range of concerns including relationship difficulties, domestic abuse, anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, addiction, trauma and PTSD, bereavement, anger, family issues, loneliness and burnout. She holds BACP, which indicates membership of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, the professional body for counsellors in the United Kingdom.

Evidence-based approaches and flexible online care

Amanda Barnes uses evidence-based therapeutic techniques tailored to each person’s needs. One approach focuses on identifying and shifting unhelpful thinking and behaviour patterns to reduce symptoms of anxiety or depression and build healthier coping skills. Another approach is trauma-informed work that helps people make sense of painful events and develop strategies to manage overwhelming emotions and reactions. For couples and families, Amanda offers relational and communication-focused work that supports clearer expression, better listening and repair of connection between partners.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapy process. Amanda works collaboratively with clients to explore what fits best based on their concerns, goals and personal preferences, and she adapts methods as progress unfolds. This collaborative planning helps ensure therapy feels relevant and effective for the individual or couple.

Online therapy offers practical flexibility - sessions can take place by video call, phone, live chat or text-based messaging to suit different schedules and comfort levels. These options make it easier to access consistent support from licensed professionals and therapists while balancing work, family and other commitments.