Sayma Arshad

• Stress and anxiety
• Relationship issues
• Mindfulness and CBT

About Sayma

Sayma Arshad works with stress, anxiety, relationship difficulties, grief and a range of other concerns using an integrative approach that draws on several therapeutic models. She is a BACP member and has 13 years of experience in mental health settings in the United Kingdom.

She works with people one to one and adapts methods to the person in front of her. Sessions focus on practical ways to manage mood, coping with life changes, and improving how people relate to others. Sayma combines talking approaches with mindfulness and cognitive strategies to help with unhelpful thinking and emotional regulation.

Her background includes social work and frontline roles in the NHS, social services and charities. This experience informs how she thinks about social and environmental factors that affect mental health. She has worked with people with learning disabilities and those with complex mental health needs as well as with other mental healthcare professionals.

Areas she commonly addresses include depression, anxiety, parenting strains, relationship issues, trauma and abuse, bipolar experience, ADHD and work-related stress. She also supports people with intimacy and addiction concerns, sleep and eating difficulties, low self-esteem and career questions.

In sessions she aims to build a trusting relationship and to listen carefully. The focus is on clear, practical steps alongside reflective work so people can notice change between meetings and keep working on their goals.

Therapeutic approaches and working online

Attachment-based work focuses on how relationships shape feelings and behaviour; it helps when patterns in close relationships cause repeated distress. Client-centred work places the person and their experience at the centre of sessions, using listening and reflection to help clarify goals and choices. Cognitive behavioural work looks at how thoughts, feelings and actions interact, and uses practical exercises to change unhelpful patterns.

Finding the right mix of these approaches is part of the therapy process. The counsellor will work collaboratively to choose methods that fit the client’s goals, preferences and day-to-day needs rather than imposing a single model. This means sessions can emphasise practical skills, reflective conversation, or a blend of both depending on what helps.

Please confirm which session formats are currently offered before booking, as the biography does not list specific options. Online work can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy week, reduce travel time and allow shorter check-ins when that suits. It can also make it simpler to try different ways of working while keeping continuity with a registered professional.

Topics Sayma lists

• Stress and anxiety
• LGBT
• Relationship issues
• Grief
• Depression
• Addictions
• Family conflicts
• Trauma and abuse
• Intimacy-related issues
• Eating disorders
• Sleeping disorders
• Parenting issues
• Anger management
• Self-esteem
• Career difficulties
• Bipolar disorder
• Coping with life changes
• ADHD

Ways of working

• Attachment-Based Therapy
• Client-Centred Therapy
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
• Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)
• Mindfulness Therapy
• Motivational Interviewing
• Solution-Focused Therapy

Questions about Sayma

Does she work with anxiety?

Yes. Anxiety is listed as one of her core concerns and she uses cognitive and mindfulness approaches to help manage symptoms.

What kind of counselling does she offer?

She offers an integrative approach combining attachment-based, client-centred, cognitive behavioural and emotionally-focused methods alongside mindfulness.

How much experience does she have?

She has 13 years of experience working in mental health, social services, the NHS and charity settings.

Is she registered with a professional body in the UK?

She is a member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, shown as BACP.

Can I have sessions in languages other than English?

Sessions are offered in English.

What session formats does she provide?

The original biography does not specify session formats; please confirm the current session options before booking.

How much do sessions cost?

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

How do I get started?

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