Valerie Stanley-Brooks , BACP

Valerie Stanley-Brooks is a UK-credentialed counsellor and a registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), the professional body for counsellors and psychotherapists in the United Kingdom. With 25 years of clinical practice, she offers compassionate, evidence-based counselling and psychotherapy to young people, adults, and couples.

Her career spans educational, therapeutic, and voluntary settings, where she has supported people from diverse backgrounds through a wide range of life challenges. Valerie uses an integrative, client-centred approach that draws on multiple therapeutic models. This allows her to tailor support to each person’s situation and goals, combining practical strategies with space for reflection and emotional processing.

Valerie works with common concerns such as stress, anxiety, grief and bereavement, trauma and abuse, low self-esteem, depression, addictions, relationship and family difficulties, parenting challenges, sleep and eating issues, anger, career transitions, and coping with life changes. She also supports couples who want to repair trust, improve communication, and rebuild emotional connection.

Recognising that reaching out for help can feel daunting, Valerie aims to create a calm, non-judgmental environment where clients can explore their thoughts and feelings at their own pace. She provides practical resources and materials to complement therapy and supports clients step by step as they work toward sustainable change.

Integrative approaches for online support

Valerie combines client-centred work, cognitive behavioural techniques, and trauma-focused methods to meet a wide range of needs. Client-centred therapy focuses on building a trusting therapeutic relationship and creating a supportive, non-judgmental space where clients can explore their feelings and priorities; it is especially helpful for people seeking empathy and personal understanding. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, offers practical tools to identify and change unhelpful thinking and behaviour patterns and is commonly used for anxiety, depression, and stress-related issues. Trauma-focused therapy addresses the emotional and physiological effects of traumatic experiences, helping people process difficult memories and develop coping strategies for triggers and distress.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process. Valerie works collaboratively with each person to assess needs, goals, and preferences and will adapt methods over time to find the best fit. This collaborative style helps clients feel involved in planning their care and supported as priorities evolve.

Online therapy with Valerie is offered through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging, providing flexibility for different schedules and comfort levels. These options can make it easier to maintain continuity of care around work, family, or travel, while allowing the same therapeutic approaches to be delivered remotely by licensed professionals and therapists.