Robert Winstanley, BACP

Robert Winstanley is a BACP counsellor with nine years' experience helping people navigate anxiety, stress and major life changes. He works in a straightforward, respectful way and tailors sessions to each person's needs. He offers practical steps alongside listening and reflection to help people make steady progress.

He blends a client-centred stance with solution-focused techniques and trauma-informed methods. That means he listens first, then helps people set clear goals and find concrete next steps. He also draws on trauma-focused work when past events are getting in the way of daily life.

Robert has worked in the NHS and employee assistance services around England and Ireland since 2016. He has supported people through depression, bereavement, relationship strain and work-related stress. He has experience with a variety of cultural and neurodiverse backgrounds.

A particular area of interest is Critical Incident Stress Management debriefs after traumatic workplace events. He travels to workplaces across the UK to provide this support and to help people process what happened and plan coping steps.

In sessions he combines empathy with practical tools such as problem-solving, boundary-setting and simple coping routines. The aim is to reduce immediate distress and build skills for the longer term. People looking for a calm, pragmatic counsellor who listens first may find his approach useful.

How his approaches work online

Robert offers client-centred counselling that prioritises understanding each person's experience and needs. Sessions begin with listening and reflection so the counsellor can follow the client's lead and help them clarify what matters most.

He also uses solution-focused techniques that break problems into manageable steps. These sessions focus on setting small, practical goals and finding everyday strategies to reduce stress or improve relationships.

When traumatic events are part of the picture, trauma-focused work helps people process memories and reduce their ongoing impact. This approach is used alongside other methods to address symptoms and improve coping.

Deciding which approach to use is collaborative. The therapist will discuss options, try different ways of working and adapt the plan based on the client's goals, preferences and progress.

Online sessions are offered by video call, phone, live chat or text-based messaging to provide flexibility. Video calls suit in-depth conversation and visual connection, phone sessions can be easier when bandwidth is limited, live chat works well for shorter check-ins and messaging lets people reflect between sessions. These options make it easier to fit counselling around work, family and travel commitments.