Emma Barty, BACP

Emma Barty is a BACP credentialed counsellor who brings a holistic, creative approach to therapeutic work. She trained as a Level 7 transpersonal counsellor - a qualification at masters degree level - and draws on a range of talking and expressive methods to support people through stress, anxiety, grief, low self-esteem, depression, ADHD, trauma and many life changes. Emma has experience working with neurodiversity, bereavement, abuse, chronic illness and a variety of mental health concerns, and she has previously worked with the NHS, Cruse Bereavement Services and the Mind mental health charity.

Her practice combines traditional talking therapy with art and craft activities, play and sand play, movement and dance, visualization and meditation, Emotional Freedom Technique (tapping), DBT and CBT tools, mindfulness practices, yoga and chakra dance. Clients are offered a listening space alongside hands-on image making and other creative tasks when these methods feel helpful. Emma adapts sessions to each person - offering both short-term and long-term options and tailoring the plan to the individual’s goals and circumstances.

In the first session she explores why someone is seeking therapy, what they hope to achieve, and how they would like to work together. She uses a structured intake to ensure the right fit and then co-creates an agreement about frequency, length and practical details. Emma engages in monthly professional supervision as part of her practice to maintain ethical standards and to support ongoing development, and she aims to be a supportive, empowering presence for people ready to take steps toward change.

Therapeutic approaches tailored for online sessions

Emma draws on client-centered therapy, which places the individual’s experience at the heart of the work and focuses on empathy, active listening and collaboration to help people explore their feelings and goals. This approach is useful for a wide range of concerns including depression, anxiety, grief and relationship issues.

She also uses Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) techniques to teach practical skills in emotional regulation, distress tolerance and interpersonal effectiveness. DBT-based tools can be especially helpful for managing intense emotions, panic and ongoing patterns that cause distress.

Mindfulness therapy features in her practice as a way to build present-moment awareness and reduce reactivity. Simple mindfulness exercises and breath-based practices support coping with stress, rumination and sleep difficulties.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process and Emma works collaboratively to identify which methods best match a client’s needs, goals and preferences. She reviews progress together and adjusts the plan as needed to ensure a constructive fit.

Online therapy with Emma is offered through video calls, phone sessions, live chat and text-based messaging, providing flexibility for different schedules and comfort levels. These options make it easier to access licensed professionals from home or while travelling, and they allow therapy to continue when in-person sessions are not practical.