Hayley Matthews, BACP, NCPS

Hayley Matthews helps people who feel stuck by offering calm, down-to-earth counselling. She greets each person with warmth and respect and focuses on what matters most to them. Her approach is practical and straightforward so people can start to feel different sooner.

Hayley uses a person-centred way of working to listen and reflect back what is important. She pays attention to how past experiences shape current responses and helps people make sense of difficult feelings. She also draws on cognitive behavioural techniques and mindfulness to support coping and change.

Her background includes work in mental health and the care sector, where she provided both short-term and longer-term counselling. Over five years she has supported people with depression, anxiety, trauma, addiction and relationship difficulties among other concerns. Hayley is a member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, shown as BACP, and is listed with NCPS.

Sessions can be adapted to each person’s needs and may include talking, guided exercises, journaling or creative metaphors. Hayley aims to offer realistic strategies that fit day-to-day life, not one-size-fits-all solutions. She explains options clearly so people know what to expect.

People who choose Hayley often want a therapist who listens without judgement and helps them find practical steps forward. She offers video calls, phone sessions, live chat and text-based messaging to suit different routines and preferences.

How Hayley’s approaches work online

Hayley blends person-centred listening with practical techniques to help people cope and change. Client-centred therapy focuses on listening, empathy and respect so the person feels understood and can explore their concerns at their own pace. This approach helps with low mood, confidence and relationship worries.

Cognitive behavioural therapy, or CBT, looks at patterns of thinking and behaviour and teaches clear strategies to reduce anxiety and depressive symptoms. It is useful for tackling unhelpful thinking, improving sleep, and building everyday coping skills. Mindfulness work involves simple attention and breathing practices that calm the nervous system and can be used alongside other techniques.

Finding the right mix of approaches is part of the work. Hayley will collaborate with each person to agree what to try first and adapt as needs and goals change. That means the plan can include listening, practical exercises, journaling or short tasks between sessions.

Online sessions offer flexibility for different schedules and needs. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation and visual cues, phone sessions use less bandwidth and suit people on the move, and live chat or text-based messaging can be helpful for brief check-ins or when writing feels easier. These options aim to fit therapy into daily life and make it easier to keep up with progress.