Yana Valcheva, BACP

Yana Valcheva is a counsellor who helps people navigate relationship problems, trauma and abuse, grief, parenting challenges, depression and addiction. She also supports those struggling with intimacy, eating and body image concerns, anger, low self-esteem and major life changes. Yana speaks English, Bulgarian and French and works with clients in the United Kingdom and internationally.

Her approach is guided by the person in front of her. Sessions are conversational and often include creative ways to express what is hard to put into words. Yana uses body-awareness practices alongside talking so people can reconnect with their own senses and feelings.

She combines a background in fine art and theatre with training in body-based and holistic practices. This informs gentle, experiential work that helps people access inner resources and calm. Her experience includes supporting pregnancy and child loss, infertility, bereavement, self-harm and eating disorders.

Yana has practised as a holistic therapist and meditation teacher since 2001 and has five years of counselling experience. Her clinical approach is rooted in Client-Centred Therapy, which prioritises the client's perspective and pace. She offers practical techniques alongside reflective dialogue to help people make decisions and feel steadier.

Clients can expect short exercises, creative tasks or movement in some sessions when that feels helpful. Yana encourages people to notice bodily signals and to develop ways of being kinder to themselves. She aims to help clients find confidence, clearer choices and a greater sense of agency.

Work with her may include exploring attachment patterns, control issues, fertility-related concerns, panic and postpartum depression, as well as isolation, midlife questions and forgiveness.

Client-centred and body-aware work online

Client-Centred Therapy focuses on the client's experience and pace. The counsellor listens without judgement and helps people make sense of their feelings. This approach is useful for relationship issues, depression, grief and building self-esteem.

Yana also draws on body-awareness and creative techniques developed through her background in art, movement and holistic practices. These methods encourage people to notice bodily sensations and use simple creative tasks to express emotions that are hard to name. They can help with trauma-related symptoms, eating and body image concerns, and fertility-related stress.

Choosing the right approach is part of the work together. The counsellor will discuss goals, preferences and how you respond to different methods, then adapt sessions over time. This is a collaborative process aimed at finding what helps you feel steadier and clearer.

Online sessions are offered by registered or accredited professionals and include video calls, phone sessions, live chat and text-based messaging. Video calls are useful for face-to-face conversation and shared exercises. Phone sessions can work when bandwidth is limited or for quick check-ins. Live chat or messaging can suit shorter reflections or when writing helps you process thoughts. These options make therapy more flexible and easier to fit around work, childcare and travel.