- Years in practice
- 25
- Registration
- BACP
- Languages
- English
- Focus
- Stress, Anxiety
- Focus
- Trauma and abuse
- Focus
- Grief
About Valerie
Valerie Stanley-Brooks is a counsellor with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and more than 25 years of clinical experience. She offers straightforward, compassionate help for people feeling overwhelmed by stress, anxiety, grief, low self-esteem, addiction, or major life changes. Valerie aims to make the first step easier and provides a calm, steady presence during difficult moments.
Her practice blends client-centred listening with practical techniques from cognitive behavioural therapy and trauma-focused work.
Background and approach
This mix lets her respond to emotional pain while introducing small, manageable changes that reduce distress. Sessions are shaped around each person’s goals and pace rather than a fixed agenda. Valerie has worked in education, therapeutic services, and voluntary organisations.
That background means she is used to varied situations and practical pressures. She brings that experience when helping people sort relationships, parenting stresses, or career and life transitions. People can expect clear, down-to-earth conversation alongside structured steps to try between sessions.
Valerie also shares resources and exercises that support progress outside appointment times. Her aim is realistic change rather than quick fixes. Based in the United Kingdom, she offers work in English and welcomes international clients.
Sessions are delivered through video calls, phone, live chat, or text messaging so people can choose what fits their routine.
What Valerie works with
Everything Valerie lists, in their own terms. Parenting is the reason this directory exists; the rest shows what else Valerie helps people with.
- Stress, Anxiety
- Trauma and abuse
- Grief
- Self esteem
- Depression
- Addictions
- Relationship issues
- Family conflicts
- Intimacy-related issues
- Eating disorders
- Sleeping disorders
- Parenting issues
- Anger management
- Career difficulties
- Coping with life changes
- Coaching
- Compassion fatigue
- ADHD
- Abandonment
- Adoption and foster care
- Autism and Asperger Syndrome
- Blended family issues
- Body image
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Commitment issues
- Communication problems
- Coping with natural or human-caused disaster
- Divorce and separation
- Domestic violence
- Emptiness
- Family of origin issues
- Family problems
- Fatherhood issues
- Fertility issues
- First responder issues
- Forgiveness
- Guilt and shame
- Immigration issues
- Infidelity
- Isolation / loneliness
- Jealousy
- Life purpose
- Midlife crisis
- Veteran and Armed Forces Issues
- Multicultural concerns
- Panic disorder and panic attacks
- Postpartum depression
- Post-traumatic stress
- Pregnancy and childbirth
- Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
- Self-harm
- Self-love
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Women's issues
- Workplace issues
- Young adult issues
Approaches Valerie lists
- Client-Centred Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
- Psychodynamic Therapy
- Solution-Focused Therapy
- Trauma-Focused Therapy
Listing an approach is not evidence of training in it. This directory copies what each counsellor names and does not check training records.
Approaches that suit online therapy and parenting stresses
Client-centred therapy focuses on listening and understanding. The therapist follows the person’s pace and priorities, offering reflective questions and practical support for parenting strain, relationship tension, or emotional overwhelm.Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) looks at thoughts and behaviours that keep problems going. It uses simple experiments and tasks to reduce anxiety, improve sleep, or manage anger in day-to-day life. This approach often suits people who want clear steps to try between sessions.
Finding the right approach is part of the work together. The therapist will discuss goals and preferences and try methods that fit those aims. Decisions about techniques are collaborative and can change as progress is made.
Online sessions are available by video call, phone, live chat, or text messaging, offering flexibility around busy family routines or work hours. Video is useful for deeper conversation and sharing resources, phone is good when bandwidth is limited, live chat fits quick check-ins, and messaging can support ongoing reflection between appointments. These options help people keep therapy on a schedule that suits them.
Questions people ask about Valerie
What concerns does she help with?
She supports people with stress, anxiety, depression, grief, addictions, relationship and intimacy issues, parenting challenges, anger, and life changes. Additional areas include body image, adoption and foster care, caregiver stress, and fatherhood issues.
What is her therapeutic style like?
Her style is client-centred and collaborative, mixing empathetic listening with practical techniques. She draws on cognitive behavioural and trauma-focused methods when helpful.
What experience does she bring?
She has worked for 25 years across educational, therapeutic and voluntary settings, bringing broad experience of real-world pressures and support needs.
What credentials and location are listed?
She is a member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and is based in the United Kingdom.
Which languages are sessions offered in?
Sessions are offered in English and she accepts international clients.
Which session formats are available?
She offers video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to suit different schedules and preferences.
How are costs and payments handled?
Costs vary with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be cancelled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule sessions according to therapist availability.
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