Hayley Matthews, BACP, NCPS

Hayley Matthews is a qualified therapeutic counsellor with five years of experience working in mental health services. She has supported people in both short-term and long-term work and has worked with a wide range of concerns including depression, general anxiety and social anxiety, post-traumatic stress, relationship difficulties, loss and bereavement, loneliness and isolation, life changing events, family issues, work-related stress, addiction, and challenges with confidence and self-esteem.

Hayley approaches therapy from a person-centered stance, helping people explore how their life experiences shape their responses and relationships. She aims to help clients make sense of what is happening for them, to process thoughts and emotions, and to identify realistic ways to meet present and future challenges. Her relational style emphasizes genuineness, warmth, honesty, respect, and a non-judgemental attitude so that people can show different parts of themselves and begin to unmask habitual patterns.

With a background in the care sector, Hayley brings a practical passion for improving quality of life, empowering others, and finding workable solutions to distressing problems. She offers sessions by telephone or online and draws on creative methods such as metaphor, creative writing, and journaling when appropriate. She also integrates techniques from other approaches including cognitive behavioral methods and solution-focused work.

Hayley is a registered member of the BACP - the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, a professional membership body - and holds the NCPS credential. All of her work is clinically supervised and she is fully insured to practise.

Approaches that guide online therapy

Hayley combines relational and practical methods to support people working online. Client-Centered Therapy focuses on the individual's experience and uses empathy, acceptance, and genuine dialogue to help people explore feelings and make personal meaning - it is useful for issues like low self-esteem, life transitions, and relationship difficulties.

Attachment-Based Therapy pays attention to early and current relationship patterns and how these affect trust, intimacy, and emotional regulation. It can be helpful for those coping with abandonment, attachment difficulties, and long-term relational patterns. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) offers structured techniques to identify and change unhelpful thoughts and behaviours, and is commonly used for anxiety, depression, stress, and some trauma-related symptoms.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process. Hayley works collaboratively with each person to assess needs, goals, and preferences and will adapt methods together so the work fits the individual rather than forcing a single model.

Online therapy with Hayley is offered via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging, providing flexibility to fit different schedules and comfort levels. These options make it easier to maintain continuity of care around work, family, or mobility constraints and allow therapists and licensed professionals to tailor session formats to what helps the person engage most effectively.