Hayley Matthews

• Stress and anxiety
• Trauma and abuse
• CBT and mindfulness

About Hayley

Hayley Matthews helps people with stress, anxiety, trauma, depression, relationship and family concerns, addiction, self-esteem and life changes. She works in a person-centred way, using relational counselling and drawing on cognitive behavioural techniques and mindfulness when helpful. Hayley is a member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and has five years' experience.

Hayley offers short-term and longer-term counselling. Sessions focus on understanding how life events have shaped current responses. She encourages clients to talk about thoughts, feelings and behaviour, and looks at practical steps to manage day-to-day difficulties. Creative methods such as metaphor, journaling and creative writing may be offered to help people reflect in different ways.

Her client-centred approach emphasises genuineness, respect and non-judgement. She works relationally to notice patterns in how people present to others and to how they relate to themselves. Techniques from cognitive behavioural therapy and solution-focused ideas are used alongside attachment-based thinking and mindfulness practices when these fit the work.

Hayley has experience from work in the care sector and in mental health services, supporting people with post-traumatic stress, social anxiety, bereavement, work stress and substance issues among other concerns. She is clinically supervised and insured, and follows the BACP ethical framework.

Sessions can be arranged by selecting the Talk to a counsellor online button and completing the short matching questionnaire. After that a first session can be scheduled to discuss what the person hopes to achieve and how to proceed.

How Hayley works online and her key approaches

Hayley uses a person-centred, relational approach that focuses on the client's experience and on building an open working relationship. This approach helps people talk through how life events affect their feelings and behaviour and supports exploration at a measured pace.

She also uses cognitive behavioural therapy, which looks at links between thoughts, feelings and actions and helps people try practical changes for mood, anxiety and coping. Mindfulness techniques are used to develop present-moment awareness and to reduce reactivity to stressors.

Finding the right mix of approaches is part of the work. Hayley discusses goals and preferences in early sessions and collaborates with each person to decide which methods to use. This helps to focus sessions on what matters most to the individual.

The biography notes that she can offer online and telephone sessions, so please confirm the exact session options before booking. Online and phone work can make it easier to fit counselling into everyday life, for example by avoiding travel, allowing sessions between other commitments, or offering a shorter check-in by phone when time is limited. Registered or accredited professionals can adapt exercises such as CBT worksheets or mindfulness practices for remote use so the work continues between sessions.

Topics Hayley lists

• Stress and anxiety
• Trauma and abuse
• Self-esteem
• Depression
• ADHD
• Addictions
• LGBT
• Relationship issues
• Family conflicts
• Grief
• Intimacy-related issues
• Eating disorders
• Sleeping disorders
• Parenting issues
• Anger management
• Career difficulties
• Bipolar disorder
• Coping with life changes
• Coaching
• Abandonment
• Aging and geriatric issues
• Attachment issues
• Autism and Asperger Syndrome
• Avoidant personality
• Blended family issues
• Body image
• Cancer
• Co-morbidity
• Codependency
• Commitment issues
• Communication problems
• Control issues
• Dissociation
• Drug and alcohol addiction
• Eating and food-related issues
• Family problems
• Fatherhood issues
• Fertility issues
• Guilt and shame
• Hearing impaired
• Isolation and loneliness
• Jealousy
• Life purpose
• Men's issues
• Midlife crisis
• Mood disorders
• Narcissism
• Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD
• Panic disorder and panic attacks
• Paranoia
• Personality disorders
• Post-traumatic stress
• Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
• Self-harm
• Self-love
• Sexuality
• Social anxiety and phobia
• Women's issues
• Workplace issues
• Young adult issues

Ways of working

• Attachment-Based Therapy
• Client-Centred Therapy
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
• Existential Therapy
• Mindfulness Therapy
• Motivational Interviewing
• Narrative Therapy
• Psychodynamic Therapy
• Solution-Focused Therapy

Questions about Hayley

Does she work with anxiety?

Yes. Anxiety is listed among her core concerns and she uses person-centred work alongside CBT and mindfulness techniques.

What kind of counselling does she offer?

She offers person-centred, relational counselling and also draws on attachment-based ideas, cognitive behavioural techniques, existential and mindfulness approaches.

How much experience does she have?

Hayley has five years' experience providing short- and long-term counselling in mental health and care settings.

Is she registered with a professional body in the UK?

She is a member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and is also listed with NCPS as supplied.

Can I have sessions in another language?

Sessions are offered in English only.

What session formats are available?

The biography states she can provide online or telephone sessions; please confirm current session options before booking.

How much do sessions cost?

Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription model that can be cancelled at any time.

How do I start with her counselling?

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