Rebecca Rust-Ashford, BACP

Rebecca Rust-Ashford is a counsellor who focuses on helping people manage stress, anxiety, depression and the effects of trauma. She brings three years of clinical experience and practices in the United Kingdom under the BACP designation. Her approach is warm and non-judgemental and she adapts how she works to fit each person she supports.

Rebecca uses methods that aim to make talking feel manageable. Sessions are centred on the person’s needs and pace. She listens for the story behind symptoms and helps people find clearer ways to cope and move forward.

In practice she combines client-centred work with trauma-focused techniques and EMDR where appropriate. That mix lets her address immediate worries as well as difficult memories that keep causing distress. She explains options plainly so people can choose what feels right.

Rebecca also supports people dealing with relationship strain, self-esteem concerns and the impacts of abuse. Additional areas she addresses include attachment difficulties, adoption and foster care issues, chronic illness, caregiver stress and body image worries. She will talk through how these topics may be connected to current problems.

Sessions may look different for different people - some need short practical strategies, others prefer to work slowly through painful experiences. Rebecca aims to build a steady, respectful space where people can try things out and notice change over time.

Online approaches for trauma and recovery

Client-Centred Therapy focuses on the person in front of the counsellor. It means listening carefully, reflecting what someone says and helping them make their own choices about change. This approach is useful for building trust and for working on everyday worries like stress and low self-esteem.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a trauma-focused method aimed at easing the strong emotional reactions linked to painful memories. In simple terms it guides the mind to process distressing memories differently so they feel less overwhelming, which can help with anxiety and trauma symptoms.

Trauma-Focused Therapy concentrates on the effects of traumatic events and their ongoing impact. It involves gentle, step-by-step work to reduce the power of traumatic memories and to strengthen coping skills for current life challenges.

Finding the right approach is part of the work together. The therapist will discuss goals, preferences and what feels manageable, and then propose one or more ways to proceed. Decisions are made collaboratively so the plan fits each person's needs.

Online sessions offer flexibility and easier access. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation over distance, phone sessions can be lower bandwidth and easier when movement is needed, and live chat or text messaging can suit short check-ins or people who prefer writing. These options make it simpler to fit therapy into a busy life and to keep continuity between appointments.