Johanna Skillen, BACP

Johanna Skillen is a counsellor based in the United Kingdom with five years of professional experience. She focuses on helping people who are struggling with stress, anxiety, depression, grief and trauma. Johanna also supports those working on self-esteem, control issues and self-love.

She creates a calm, non-judgemental space where people can say what they are thinking and feeling. Conversations are practical and straightforward. Johanna aims to make each session a place to untangle difficult thoughts and find clearer choices.

Her approach combines a client-centred way of working with cognitive behavioural techniques. That means she listens first and builds sessions around each person, then uses simple exercises to spot patterns and try new responses. These methods are useful for managing anxiety, low mood and unhelpful habits.

Sessions usually move at the client’s pace. Johanna helps people break big problems into smaller steps they can try between meetings. She encourages realistic goals and checks progress together, adapting the plan as needed.

People come to her for practical coping strategies after life changes or loss, for clearer thinking around control issues, and for support while rebuilding confidence. Taking the first step can feel hard, and Johanna offers steady, down-to-earth support through that process.

Therapeutic approaches for online support

Client-centred therapy puts the person’s experience at the heart of sessions. The counsellor listens without judgement, follows what matters most to the client, and shapes conversations around their concerns. This approach is helpful when someone needs acceptance, clarity or a space to make sense of difficult feelings.

Cognitive behavioural therapy, or CBT, focuses on identifying unhelpful thoughts and testing small behavioural changes. It uses straightforward exercises and practical tools to reduce anxiety, lift low mood and change habits that hold someone back. CBT works well alongside a client-centred stance for people who want both understanding and action.

Finding the right approach is part of the work together. The therapist will discuss goals, try methods and adjust based on what feels most useful. This collaborative process helps match techniques to each person’s needs and preferences rather than using a one-size-fits-all plan.

Online therapy offers flexible ways to meet, including video calls, phone sessions, live chat and text-based messaging. Video suits longer conversations and face-to-face dialogue. Phone sessions can be easier when bandwidth is limited or for quick check-ins. Live chat and messaging work well for shorter updates, written reflection or when someone prefers typing. These options help fit therapy around work, family and daily life while keeping the same therapeutic methods in place.