Sarah "Sian" Welch, BACP

Sarah "Sian" Welch uses practical, evidence-informed approaches to help people manage stress, anxiety, depression and addiction. She is a BACP counsellor and has 15 years of experience working with a wide range of concerns. Sian writes simply and directly in sessions. She focuses on what will make life easier for the person in front of her. Sian helps people talk through low self-esteem, confidence problems and motivation issues. She supports those coping with grief, trauma and intimacy-related worries. Sleeping problems, anger and compassion fatigue are also areas she addresses in straightforward ways. Her practice also covers longer-term challenges such as chronic pain, illness or disability and issues that come up in midlife. Sian works with people facing addiction and process-compulsive behaviours such as gambling or problematic use of pornography and exercise. She also explores societal and gendered pressures that affect women. In sessions she draws on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy to make change practical. That means learning small skills and trying them between sessions. The focus is on noticing what matters to the client and building actions that fit their life. Sian accepts international clients and offers sessions in English. She invites people to take the first step and says courage is part of change. Her style is warm, direct and goal-focused, aimed at helping people find clearer ways forward.

How ACT and CBT translate to online sessions

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people notice unhelpful thoughts and reconnect with what matters to them. It focuses on small steps and values-based actions to reduce avoidance and build a more meaningful day-to-day life. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) looks at the links between thoughts, feelings and behaviours and teaches practical techniques to change patterns that cause distress; it is helpful for anxiety, panic and low mood. Finding the right approach is part of the work. Sian will talk with each person about their goals and preferences, and together they will choose which methods to try. This collaborative process means the plan can change as progress is made or circumstances shift. Online sessions offer practical flexibility for busy lives. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation and visual cues, phone sessions work well when bandwidth is limited, and live chat or text-based messaging can suit shorter check-ins or days when typing feels easier. These options make it simpler to fit therapy around work, care duties and travel, while still allowing the same therapeutic tools and homework between meetings.