Simon Barkley, BACP

Simon Barkley is a counsellor based in the United Kingdom who helps people facing stress, anxiety, addiction, anger, low self-esteem and major life changes. He supports those dealing with relationship and family strain, trauma and bereavement, sleep problems, career setbacks and compassion fatigue. Simon works with people seeking clearer coping strategies and practical steps forward.

He uses a straightforward, person-led style. Simon treats the person as the expert in their own story and looks for existing strengths to build on. Sessions focus on identifying patterns, reducing distress, and setting small, achievable goals that fit everyday life.

Simon draws on several clinical approaches including Client-Centred therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Existential ideas. He also uses elements of the Gottman Method and Motivational Interviewing when these fit the client’s needs. These methods are blended to match each person rather than following a single script.

With eight years of experience, Simon has worked notably with addiction, anger, bereavement and motivation issues. He aims to help people process difficult experiences and improve how they relate to themselves and others. He offers practical exercises alongside talking work.

Simon holds BACP accreditation, which is recorded as BACP. He accepts international clients and runs sessions in English. To begin, people use the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire and schedule according to the therapist’s availability.

How Simon’s approaches translate to online work

Client-Centred therapy focuses on listening and reflecting so people can find their own answers; it helps when someone needs empathy and space to make sense of things. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) looks at the link between thoughts, feelings and behaviour and gives practical exercises to reduce anxiety, improve sleep or change unhelpful habits. Existential ideas help people examine meaning, choice and responsibility when facing big life changes or grief.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. Simon aims to choose and blend methods together with the person in session. He discusses goals, preferences and what feels most useful, so the plan is collaborative rather than fixed from the start.

The biography does not specify which online formats are used, so confirm the available session types before booking. In general, online work can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy week, reduce travel time and allow shorter check-ins when needed. It can also let people try talking things through from a convenient location and use worksheets or practical exercises between sessions.