Ilkay Alici, BACP

Ilkay Alici is a counsellor and psychotherapist based in the United Kingdom with 14 years of clinical experience. She holds an MSc in Psychology - a Master of Science degree in psychology - and is a member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (MBACP), reflecting her commitment to professional standards and ongoing development.

Ilkay works with both individuals and couples and offers support for a broad range of concerns, including stress and anxiety, trauma and abuse, grief and loss, parenting difficulties, addiction, and relationship challenges. Her practice also encompasses issues such as self-esteem, career pressures, mood disorders, and coping with life changes, allowing her to tailor work to each person’s particular circumstances.

She practices from a compassionate, non-judgemental stance, encouraging clients to explore thoughts and feelings at their own pace. Ilkay focuses on helping people strengthen relationships, develop practical coping strategies, and create a more balanced and meaningful life. Acknowledging that seeking support can feel difficult, she approaches that first step as a positive sign of resilience and aims to accompany clients through change with empathy and professional care.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Support

Ilkay draws on client-centered therapy to place the person’s own experience at the heart of the work. This approach emphasizes empathy, active listening, and collaboration, helping people clarify values, build self-understanding, and strengthen relationships. Cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT, is used to identify and shift unhelpful thinking and behaviour patterns; it is practical and problem-focused, and can be useful for issues such as anxiety, low mood, and stress. Mindfulness therapy introduces simple awareness and grounding practices that support emotional regulation and reduce reactivity, which can help with stress, anxiety, and managing difficult emotions.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process, and Ilkay works collaboratively with each person to determine which methods fit their needs, goals, and preferences. Sessions can blend elements from different approaches to create a tailored plan that evolves over time.

Online therapy offers practical flexibility - sessions by video call and phone allow real-time conversation, while live chat and text-based messaging provide additional ways to reflect and connect between appointments. These options make it easier to fit therapy into busy schedules, access support from different locations, and maintain continuity of care with licensed professionals and therapists.