Registration on file

Sayma Arshad, BACP

Sayma Arshad is a counsellor with 13 years' experience supporting people through stress, anxiety, grief and trauma.

Stress, Anxiety
LGBT
Relationship issues
+15 more

About Sayma

Sayma Arshad is a counsellor with 13 years' experience supporting people through stress, anxiety, grief and trauma. She works in a warm, patient way and aims to make first sessions less daunting. She uses a blend of approaches and adapts them to each person's needs.

She trained as a social worker and holds BACP accreditation, which she combines with long experience in the NHS, social services and charities. That background means she understands how life circumstances, social factors and past events can affect mental health.

Background and approach

In sessions she takes a person-centred stance and draws on attachment-based ideas to look at relationships and trust. She also uses cognitive-behavioural methods to help with unhelpful thoughts and practical coping. This mixture is shaped around what the client brings to the room.

Sayma has worked with people facing depression, parenting challenges, bereavement, self-esteem issues and relationship problems. She has particular experience supporting adult survivors of abuse, trauma-related concerns and people affected by work-related stress or later-stage ADHD diagnosis. Her style is empathetic and interactive.

She listens first, then helps people identify goals and small steps they can try between sessions. The aim is steady progress rather than quick fixes, with the person in charge of pace and direction.

Details from the counsellor's public professional profile · registration number listed

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Registration

Body	Registration number	Expires
BACP	384258	November 2026

Registration details are as listed on the counsellor's public profile. You can check any number with the registering body.

Check on the BACP register

Sessions and payment

Sessions are held online through our partner platform, by video, phone or messaging depending on the counsellor.

Cost Costs are shown on the partner platform before you commit. If cost is a concern, ask about reduced-fee options.

Focus areas and approaches

Everything Sayma lists on their public professional profile, in their own terms.

Stress, 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 Sayma names

Naming an approach is not evidence of training in it. This directory copies what each counsellor lists and does not check training records.

How her approaches translate to online therapy

Attachment-based work focuses on patterns of relating and trust. Online sessions let people talk about difficult relationship memories and notice how they respond in conversations now, which can help shift old patterns. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, or CBT, looks at the link between thoughts, feelings and actions. It is useful for anxiety, low mood and sleep problems and can include short exercises and thought records done between sessions. Finding the best approach is part of the therapeutic process. The counsellor will work collaboratively to decide which methods suit the client's needs and goals. That choice can change over time, and sessions are adjusted to reflect what is helpful for the individual. Online formats offer practical flexibility. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation and non-verbal cues while fitting around work or family commitments. Phone sessions use less bandwidth and can be easier when getting on camera feels difficult. Live chat and text-based messaging make it possible to check in, share short updates or use written reflections between longer sessions, supporting continuity of care and different communication preferences.

Frequently asked

What concerns does she help with?

She supports people with stress, anxiety, depression, grief and trauma-related difficulties. Other areas include relationship and intimacy issues, addictions, eating and sleeping problems, anger and self-esteem.

What is her therapeutic style like?

Her work is person-centred and empathetic, combining attachment-based thinking with cognitive-behavioural and emotionally-focused methods. Sessions focus on listening, building trust and trying practical steps between meetings.

How much experience does she have?

She has 13 years of experience working across the NHS, social services and charity organisations. That background includes frontline roles with people who have learning disabilities and mental health conditions.

What credentials and location are listed?

She is accredited with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and practices in the United Kingdom.

Which languages and international options are available?

Sessions are offered in English and she accepts international clients.

Which session formats are offered?

She works online using video calls, phone sessions, live chat and text-based messaging to suit different needs and schedules.

How does payment and cost work?

Cost varies with location and therapist availability and sessions are provided through a subscription that can be cancelled at any time.

How do I begin working with her?

Click the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions according to the therapist's availability.