Valerie Skerrett, BACP

Valerie Skerrett helps people facing stress, anxiety, low mood and difficulties with relationships. She supports those coping with grief, self-esteem concerns, addictions and major life changes. Valerie also addresses intimacy-related problems and challenges around career and body image. She is known for a calm, direct manner that helps people speak plainly about what they are feeling.

Valerie has nine years of professional experience and is a member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). She draws on evidence-based therapeutic techniques to make therapy practical and goal-focused. Sessions aim to break problems into manageable steps and build clearer ways of handling difficult emotions.

In sessions she encourages an open dialogue where people can say what they think and try out new responses. She works collaboratively, helping clients set realistic aims and notice small changes. Practical tasks and reflection between sessions are often suggested to keep progress moving.

Valerie also works with people dealing with family tensions, blended family issues and the strains of caregiving. She offers help for people coping with divorce, infidelity, isolation and end-of-life concerns. Her approach pays attention to life stage and the specific pressures each person faces.

Therapy is explained in plain terms and paced to suit each person. Valerie supports LGBT concerns and men’s issues alongside broader emotional and relationship difficulties. She offers sessions in English and is based in the United Kingdom while accepting international clients.

How therapeutic approaches work online

Valerie draws on evidence-based techniques that focus on clear, practical change. One common approach is problem-focused work that helps identify specific patterns and teaches new skills for managing stress and anxiety. This involves short exercises and step-by-step plans to reduce overwhelm and build coping routines.

Another helpful approach is emotion-focused work which supports people to name feelings, understand where they come from and try new ways of responding to strong emotions. This is useful for grief, relationship conflict and self-esteem concerns and often includes reflective exercises and homework between sessions.

Choosing the best method is a collaborative process. Valerie will talk through your situation and preferences and try approaches that fit your goals. If something does not feel helpful she will adapt the plan so it better meets your needs.

Online therapy offers practical flexibility. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation when eye contact and visual cues matter. Phone sessions are helpful when bandwidth is limited or a simpler check-in is needed. Live chat and text messaging suit brief updates, shorter reflections or moments when typing feels easier. These options make it simpler to fit therapy around work, caregiving and other commitments.