Carol Barker

• Stress and anxiety
• Relationship issues
• Acceptance and commitment therapy

About Carol

Carol Barker focuses on stress, anxiety, relationship and family concerns, grief and depression using a range of counselling approaches. She is a member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and has seven years of experience working as a counsellor.

She writes in plain terms and works with adults to talk through current problems and long-standing difficulties. Sessions use established talking therapies and practical strategies that people can try between meetings. Carol aims to help people notice patterns, practise different ways of responding, and manage difficult feelings day to day.

Her background includes many years in health care settings, which she draws on when planning support. She keeps her skills up to date by attending regular courses and combines different approaches to fit what a person needs in the moment. This means she may use acceptance-based work, cognitive tools, or emotion-focused conversation depending on the issue.

In sessions she is client-centred in her style, offering reflective listening and collaborative planning. She also uses techniques from cognitive behavioural approaches and dialectical behaviour ideas to build coping skills and improve communication. Attachment-based ideas inform how she looks at relationship difficulties and family patterns.

Practical details are simple: sessions can be arranged to suit busy schedules, with evening and weekend times available on request. Fees vary by location and sessions use a subscription that can be cancelled at any time. To begin, use the site button to complete a short matching questionnaire and book a first session.

Therapeutic approaches and online sessions

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people notice unhelpful thoughts and commit to actions that match their values; it can be useful for anxiety, stress and low mood. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) focuses on practical strategies to change unhelpful thinking and behaviour patterns, often used for anxiety and depression. Attachment-Based Therapy looks at how early relationship patterns affect current relationships and communication, which can help with relationship and family concerns.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. The counsellor will discuss options and agree a way forward together, using the client’s goals and preferences to decide which methods to try. This collaborative planning can change as progress is made and as different issues arise.

Practical benefits of online sessions include being able to fit counselling around work and family commitments and reducing travel time. The biography does not list specific session formats, so confirm current session options before booking. Many people find that remote appointments make it easier to schedule evening or weekend slots and to keep short regular check-ins that fit into a busy week.

Topics Carol lists

• Stress and anxiety
• Relationship issues
• Family conflicts
• Grief
• Depression
• Adoption and foster care
• Aging and geriatric issues
• Antisocial personality
• Attachment issues
• Avoidant personality
• Body image
• Cancer
• Caregiver issues and stress
• Chronic pain, illness, and disability
• Codependency
• Commitment issues
• Communication problems
• Control issues
• Coping with natural or human-caused disaster
• Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)
• Dissociation
• Divorce and separation
• Domestic violence
• Drug and alcohol addiction
• Eating and food-related issues
• Emptiness
• Family of origin issues
• Family problems
• Fatherhood issues
• Fertility issues
• First responder issues
• Forgiveness
• Guilt and shame
• Hearing impaired
• HIV and AIDS
• Hoarding
• Hospice and end-of-life counselling
• Impulsivity
• Isolation and loneliness
• Jealousy
• Life purpose
• Midlife crisis
• Veteran and armed forces issues
• Money and financial issues
• Mood disorders
• Narcissism
• Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD
• Panic disorder and panic attacks
• Phobias
• Pregnancy and childbirth
• Self-harm
• Self-love
• Sexuality
• Quitting smoking or vaping
• Social anxiety and phobia
• Visually impaired
• Women's issues
• Workplace issues
• Young adult issues

Ways of working

• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
• Attachment-Based Therapy
• Client-Centred Therapy
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
• Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)
• Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)
• Mindfulness Therapy
• Motivational Interviewing

Questions about Carol

Does she work with anxiety?

Yes. Anxiety and stress are listed among her main areas of work.

What kind of counselling does she offer?

She uses an integrative, client-centred approach drawing on ACT, CBT, DBT and attachment-informed work.

What experience does she have?

She has seven years of experience as a counsellor and previous work in health care settings.

Is she registered with a professional body and where is she based?

She is a member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and practises in the United Kingdom.

Can I have sessions in other languages?

Sessions are offered in English only.

Does she work with international clients?

She does not accept international clients at this time.

How much do sessions cost?

Fees vary with location and sessions use a subscription that can be cancelled at any time.

How do I start with her?

Click the Talk to a counsellor online button, complete a short matching questionnaire, then schedule a first session.