Shirley Banton, BACP

How Shirley blends approaches for online therapy

Shirley often draws on Trauma-Focused Therapy to guide work with people affected by past harm. This approach looks at how traumatic experiences affect feelings and relationships and supports gradual, paced exploration of those memories and reactions.

She also uses Client-Centred Therapy, which places the person’s experience at the heart of sessions. That means the counsellor listens without judgement, follows your pace, and helps you make sense of what matters most to you.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, or CBT, is another tool she uses when helpful. CBT focuses on identifying unhelpful thoughts and testing small, practical changes to reduce anxiety or low mood.

Choosing the right approach is part of the work. Shirley will talk with clients about goals, preferences and what feels manageable, then agree a plan together. That collaborative decision-making helps tailor sessions to each person’s needs rather than applying a fixed method.

Online therapy offers practical benefits like flexibility and easier access. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation when that feels important. Phone sessions can be useful when bandwidth is limited or for people who prefer not to use video. Live chat and text messaging suit short check-ins, journalling between sessions, or times when typed words feel easier than speaking. These options make it simpler to fit therapy into a working day, study schedule or other commitments.