Rachel Challans, BACP

Rachel Challans is a counsellor based in the United Kingdom with three years of professional experience. She frames the person who comes to therapy as the expert in their own story and focuses on building on existing strengths. Rachel aims to offer steady support while people take the first steps towards change. Her work is grounded in respect and practical help.

She helps people talk through stress, anxiety, depression and mood concerns such as bipolar. She also supports those facing trauma and abuse, intimacy-related issues and challenges around addiction. Relationship and family concerns, parenting strain, grief and self-esteem problems are areas she often sees. Rachel also works with people with ADHD, body image worries, eating concerns and sexual expression matters such as BDSM, kink and alternative sex culture.

Her approach draws on attachment-based and client-centred ways of working. That means she pays attention to how relationships shape feelings and focuses on understanding each person without judgement. She also uses somatic and trauma-focused methods to help people reconnect with their bodies and process difficult experiences.

Sessions are offered in English and Rachel accepts international clients. She is registered with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, BACP, which appears after her name as a credential. She aims to tailor sessions to each person’s needs and pace.

Rachel describes therapy as a collaborative process. People can expect a calm, practical space to explore concerns, try new ways of coping and make changes that fit their life.

How attachment, somatic and trauma-informed work translates online

Attachment-based therapy focuses on how early and current relationships shape feelings and behaviour. Online sessions can be used to notice patterns in relationships, practise new ways of connecting and reflect on how past attachments influence present reactions.

Somatic therapy pays attention to body sensations and physical responses to stress. In remote sessions a counsellor might guide simple body-awareness exercises, breathing work or movement checks to help people notice and manage bodily tension linked to anxiety or trauma.

Trauma-focused approaches aim to help people process and reduce the ongoing impact of distressing experiences. This can involve grounding techniques, paced work through memories and cultivating safety in sessions so memories feel more manageable over time.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapy process. The therapist will work collaboratively to identify what fits each person's needs, goals and preferences. Together they may try different methods and adapt them as progress is made.

Online therapy offers flexibility for people with busy schedules or limited local options. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation, phone sessions can be easier when bandwidth is limited, live chat suits shorter check-ins, and text-based messaging supports ongoing reflection between sessions. These formats make it simpler to attend regularly and fit therapy around work, family and daily life.