Angela Higgins, BACP

Angela Higgins trained as a counsellor after many years supporting people affected by the Troubles in Northern Ireland. She brings 25 years of practice to sessions and holds BACP registration, which appears after her name. Angela is calm and direct in her approach and she focuses on helping people cope with stress, anxiety, depression and life changes.

She began as a befriender, working with people experiencing domestic and sexual abuse, panic attacks, agoraphobia and addiction. That early work shaped her commitment to empathy and respect, and she still uses those values in every session. Over time she blended person-centred listening with more structured cognitive behavioural methods to meet different needs.

Her background includes ten years specialising in addiction counselling, with four of those years spent working in a prison setting. She has also supported people through trauma, bereavement, anger, workplace problems and issues linked to self-esteem and relationships. Practical problem solving is mixed with time to talk and be heard.

In recent years she has trained in complementary approaches such as Reiki, sound healing, reflexology and Indian head massage, and she draws on these ideas when they may help a person’s wider wellbeing. Angela accepts international clients and works in English.

Sessions are offered in different formats to fit varied lives. The focus is on what the client needs in the moment and on building steady, manageable steps forward.

Working with client-centred and CBT approaches online

Angela uses client-centred therapy to prioritise empathy, genuineness and acceptance so people have space to talk and be heard. This approach helps when someone needs time to process feelings, rebuild self-esteem or feel understood before making changes.

She also uses cognitive behavioural therapy, which looks at how thoughts, feelings and actions link together. CBT is helpful for tackling anxiety, depression, panic and practical problems by testing thoughts and trying different behaviours to see what helps.

Deciding which approach to use is a shared process. Angela discusses goals and preferences at the start and adapts methods as the work progresses so therapy matches what the person needs. The plan can change if different issues emerge or if a person prefers a gentler or more structured way of working.

Online sessions are available by video call, by phone, or through live chat and text messaging, offering flexibility for different routines. Video calls suit deeper conversations when seeing facial cues matters. Phone sessions can be easier when bandwidth is limited or when someone prefers not to be on camera. Messaging and live chat work well for brief check-ins, ongoing reflection and fitting support into a busy day. Registered and accredited professionals can use these formats to make therapy more accessible and easier to fit around work, family or travel plans.