Aileen Boyle, BACP

Aileen Boyle is a counsellor who uses attachment-based, client-centred and cognitive behavioural approaches to support people facing stress, anxiety, addiction and relationship problems. She has five years of professional experience and works with a range of concerns including trauma, low self-esteem and depression. Aileen aims to make the first steps towards change feel manageable and supported.

Her sessions start by listening closely to what matters to the person in front of her. She works together with people to set clear goals and practical steps. Conversations focus on everyday challenges and ways to change unhelpful patterns rather than jargon or labels.

Aileen has particular experience with issues related to attachment, adoption and foster care, and the effects of abandonment. She also helps people navigate communication problems, codependency and the impact of drug and alcohol addiction on daily life.

She brings a calm, respectful manner to discussions of difficult topics like domestic violence, dissociation and infidelity. Aileen guides people through feelings of guilt, shame and grief while helping them rebuild a sense of agency and better self-care.

Sessions can address practical matters too, such as fertility worries, money stress and career uncertainty. The focus is on helping people find workable changes that fit their life and values.

Therapeutic approaches and online sessions

Attachment-Based Therapy looks at how early relationships shape current emotional responses and close connections. It helps when people struggle with trust, fear of abandonment or repeating difficult relationship patterns. Client-Centred Therapy focuses on listening and following the person's pace. It offers a non-judgemental space where people can make sense of feelings and find their own solutions. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, or CBT, helps identify and change unhelpful thoughts and behaviours. It is useful for anxiety, depression and stress when practical tools and structured steps are needed.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. The counsellor collaborates with each person to decide which methods suit their goals and preferences. That may mean combining ideas from different approaches and adjusting the plan as progress is made.

Online sessions offer practical flexibility. Video calls are useful for in-depth conversations and visual connection. Phone sessions can be a simpler option when bandwidth is limited or a quieter audio check-in is needed. Live chat and text-based messaging suit shorter check-ins, written reflection and people who prefer typing. These options make it easier to fit therapy around work, family and travel commitments while keeping the focus on making steady progress.