Boutaina Rahal, BACP

Boutaina Rahal helps people who are feeling overwhelmed by stress, anxiety, depression or the aftermath of trauma. She speaks English and Arabic and brings two decades of practice to each session. Her style is patient and straightforward, aimed at making hard conversations easier to manage.

Boutaina is a BACP counsellor, which means she is registered with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy. She has worked nationally and internationally and supports people navigating identity, cultural pressures and relationship difficulties.

Her approach blends client-centred listening with practical techniques drawn from cognitive behavioural therapy. This mix lets people talk through what matters while trying small, manageable changes between sessions. She also draws on emotionally focused ideas to look at how relationships and attachment shape feelings.

Sessions often focus on building coping skills, reducing anxiety, managing mood swings and rebuilding confidence after loss or abuse. Boutaina also offers support around parenting stress, career pressures, compassion fatigue and intimacy issues. She pays attention to the person behind the problem and to the practical steps that help life feel steadier.

People who choose her can expect direct, compassionate conversation and collaborative planning. She encourages clients to set clear goals and to test new ways of responding to old patterns. Getting started is framed as a process, with small early steps and steady progress over time.

How her approaches translate to online therapy

Boutaina often combines client‑centred work and cognitive behavioural therapy in online sessions. Client‑centred therapy focuses on listening, empathy and helping people clarify their own goals; it suits issues like low self‑esteem, identity questions and the need to be heard. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) offers practical tools to change unhelpful thoughts and behaviours, which can help with anxiety, depression and stress management.

Finding the right mix of approaches is part of the collaborative process. The therapist will work with the client to identify goals, test what helps and adjust methods if needed. This makes sessions adaptive and tailored rather than one‑size‑fits‑all.

Online therapy offers flexible ways to meet, including video calls, phone sessions, live chat and text messaging. Video works well for deeper conversations and visual cues, while phone sessions use less bandwidth and can be easier to fit into a busy day. Live chat and text messages are useful for brief check‑ins, coaching notes or when someone prefers writing. These options make it easier to keep momentum and to choose the format that fits a person's daily routine and needs.