Marlene Leach, BACP

Marlene Leach is a counsellor with 14 years of professional experience in the United Kingdom. She holds BACP registration, and she focuses on helping people who are dealing with stress, anxiety, low self-esteem and depression. Marlene aims to make the first steps into therapy feel manageable for people who are unsure or anxious about reaching out.

She takes a person-centred approach, starting from the belief that each person knows their story best. Sessions are built around what matters to the individual and their strengths. Marlene listens for the patterns that cause pain and helps people find clearer choices in difficult situations.

Her work covers relationship strain, trauma and abuse, and a range of addiction issues. She also supports people coping with parenting pressures, grief, anger and major life changes. Practical everyday concerns such as career stress, communication problems and feelings of emptiness are part of her practice.

Marlene draws on emotionally-focused techniques to help people understand and shift difficult emotional responses. She also uses existential ideas to help people find meaning and direction when life feels uncertain. Together these approaches aim to reduce distress and build greater emotional awareness.

Sessions can be held in English, Italian or Maltese and are offered to people in the UK and internationally. Marlene works with a variety of session formats to fit different needs and lifestyles. She encourages gradual steps and practical plans so progress can begin between meetings.

How Marlene's approaches translate to online therapy

Client-Centred Therapy puts the person at the heart of the work. The counsellor listens closely, follows the client's priorities and helps them use their own strengths to cope with stress or emotional pain. Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT) concentrates on feelings and attachment patterns and helps people understand and shift emotional responses that cause repeated conflict or distress. Existential Therapy looks at questions of meaning, choice and responsibility to help people who feel stuck or unsure about the direction of their life.

Finding the right approach is part of the work together. Marlene will talk through the goals, preferences and practical needs with each person and choose methods that fit. That collaboration means the approach can change as someone makes progress or as different issues emerge.

Online sessions offer flexibility for busy lives. Video calls let people read facial expression and tone, while phone sessions use less bandwidth and can be easier during a short break. Live chat or text-based messaging can suit quick check-ins, ongoing written reflection or when typing feels easier than speaking. These formats make it simpler to fit therapy around work, caregiving or travel and to keep momentum between meetings.