Penny Ralston, BACP

Penny Ralston is a counsellor practising in the United Kingdom with five years of professional experience. She focuses on helping people manage stress, anxiety and depression. Penny also supports those facing low self-esteem, motivation problems and changes that feel overwhelming.

Her approach is straightforward and down-to-earth. She aims to create an open space where people can talk about thoughts and feelings without fear of judgment. Sessions are conversational and practical, with attention to what the person wants to change and how to get there.

Penny uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, which looks at the links between thoughts, feelings and actions. She also draws on Mindfulness Therapy to help people notice unhelpful patterns and build steadier attention. These methods are used to manage mood, anxiety and everyday stresses.

She has experience supporting people with relationship concerns, parenting pressures, grief, addictions and career-related stress. Additional focus areas include autism and Asperger Syndrome, young adult issues, bipolar and ADHD. Penny works with LGBT concerns, intimacy-related issues and recovery from trauma and abuse.

Penny aims to empower people to make small, workable changes. She helps clients set realistic steps and practises techniques together in sessions. The emphasis is on clear, manageable strategies that fit into a busy life.

CBT and Mindfulness for online support

CBT, or Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, focuses on the links between thoughts, feelings and behaviours. It helps people change unhelpful thinking patterns and try small behavioural experiments to reduce anxiety or lift mood. Mindfulness Therapy teaches simple attention and breathing skills to reduce reactivity and improve calm. It is useful for stress, panic, low mood and ongoing worry.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will discuss goals, preferences and what feels manageable. Together they will pick or combine techniques that suit the person's needs and daily routine in a collaborative way.

Online sessions are offered as video calls, phone sessions, live chat or text-based messaging to make therapy more flexible. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation when connection and bandwidth allow. Phone sessions are useful when you prefer not to be on camera or need something that fits a short break. Live chat and text messaging can work for brief check-ins, structured exercises or when written reflection feels easier. These options help people keep therapy going around work, study and family life while still working with registered or accredited professionals and therapists.