Boutaina Rahal , BACP

Boutaina Rahal is a UK-based psychotherapist with 20 years of national and international experience and registration with the BACP - the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy. She works from an integrative perspective, drawing on cognitive behavioral techniques, humanistic and psychodynamic ideas, trauma-focused methods and existential philosophy to tailor therapy to each person's needs.

Her practice has focused on supporting adults who have experienced trauma and PTSD, as well as people coping with stress, anxiety, abuse, low self-esteem, depression and relationship difficulties. She also addresses cultural and identity concerns, motivation, confidence and personal growth, offering practical and reflective work that attends to both immediate coping and longer-term meaning.

Of British Arab background, she is fluent in English and Arabic, holds a certification in sign language from the British Sign-language Association, and is learning French and Spanish. Boutaina emphasizes the client as the expert in their own life and aims to help people discover and use their strengths to face challenges and foster change. She recognizes that beginning therapy takes courage and seeks to meet people with respect, clarity and supportive guidance.

Therapeutic approaches and online care

Client-Centered Therapy focuses on creating a supportive, nonjudgmental space where the therapist follows the client's lead, helping people explore their feelings and values to build self-understanding and resilience; it is often useful for issues around self-esteem, identity and life transitions.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) works with patterns of thinking and behavior to reduce symptoms and improve coping skills; it is commonly used for anxiety, depression and stress-related concerns by offering practical tools and structured change strategies.

Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT) concentrates on emotional experience and patterns in close relationships, helping clients and couples identify and shift interaction styles that drive distress and disconnection.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process and is decided collaboratively. The therapist will work with each person to identify goals, try approaches that fit their needs and adjust the work over time so the chosen methods align with personal preferences and progress.

Online therapy offers flexibility through video calls, phone sessions, live chat and text-based messaging, allowing people to access licensed professionals from home or other convenient locations. These options make scheduling easier, support continuity between sessions and can increase access for those balancing work, family or mobility needs.