Vanessa Putnam, BACP

Vanessa Putnam is a counsellor who uses a client-centred approach to guide people through difficult times. She draws on nine years of practical experience in the United Kingdom and works in English. Vanessa focuses on creating a calm, respectful space where people can talk about stress, anxiety, grief and relationship concerns.

She blends client-centred listening with Cognitive Behavioural Therapy techniques to help people notice patterns and try small, practical changes. Psychodynamic ideas also inform her work, offering ways to consider how past experiences influence current feelings and reactions. Systemic thinking helps when family dynamics or communication patterns are part of the problem.

Vanessa has supported people with parenting worries, coping with loss, and managing life changes. She also addresses addictions, sleep and eating difficulties, self-esteem and career concerns. Additional focus areas include attachment issues, autism and Asperger Syndrome, chronic illness and caregiver stress, and multicultural concerns including prejudice and discrimination.

Sessions are offered via video call, phone, live chat or text-based messaging, so conversations can fit around work and family life. Fees vary with location and therapist availability and are billed through a subscription that can be cancelled at any time.

To begin, a person chooses the Start Therapy button, completes a short matching questionnaire and then schedules sessions according to therapist availability. Vanessa aims to tailor each plan so it matches the individual’s needs and goals.

Approaches that guide online sessions

Vanessa uses client-centred work to place the person's own views and priorities at the heart of the sessions. This approach means the therapist listens carefully and follows what matters most to the individual, helping them find their own solutions and make sense of their experience.

She also uses Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, which focuses on identifying unhelpful thoughts and patterns and trying small, practical changes. CBT is often useful for anxiety, low mood, sleep problems and day-to-day coping strategies.

Choosing the right approach usually happens together. The therapist will discuss different ways of working and test what feels most useful. Goals, preferences and practical needs guide which methods are used, and plans are adjusted as work progresses.

Online sessions are offered by video call, phone, live chat or text-based messaging, giving flexibility for people with busy lives or limited time. Video calls support face-to-face style conversations while phone sessions use less bandwidth. Live chat and messaging are useful for shorter check-ins or when writing feels easier than speaking. These options help fit therapy around work, family commitments and travel.