Counsellor profile
Valerie Harmer, BACP
Based in United Kingdom · 9 years of experience
Solution-focused counsellor for relationship and emotional problems
Continue with ValerieAt a glance
- Registration
- BACP, United Kingdom (260348)
- Qualifications
- BACP
- Experience
- 9 years
- Languages
- English
- Based in
- United Kingdom
Details come from information Valerie supplied to BetterHelp.
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
- Mindfulness Therapy
- Solution-Focused approach
About Valerie
BACP member. Postgraduate study in Counselling and CBT Psychotherapy. Nine years of practice experience. Valerie Harmer helps people with stress, anxiety, depression, relationship difficulties and grief using a pragmatic, change-focused approach. She also supports people with low self-esteem, anger, OCD, eating and sleeping concerns, ADHD and parenting stresses.
Valerie describes her work as collaborative and solution focused. She asks questions to clarify what keeps a problem going and what might need to change. Sessions can be brief or longer term depending on what the person wants to achieve. She combines Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Mindfulness and Solution-Focused methods in ways that aim to interrupt unhelpful patterns.
Her background includes postgraduate study in Counselling and CBT Psychotherapy at the University of South Wales and a Diploma in Solution Focused Hypnotherapy from the Clifton Practice in Bristol. She has also trained as a bereavement counsellor with CRUSE. These courses contribute to her practice and ongoing professional development.
Valerie works with individuals and couples on relationship and emotional problems. She names specific focuses such as attachment issues, communication problems, commitment concerns, family of origin issues and midlife crisis. She also lists hospice and end-of-life counselling among her areas of work.
As a BACP member she follows that body's code of conduct and engages in regular supervision. That supervision and continuing study form part of how she maintains her clinical practice and updates her skills.
Approach and practicalities for online counselling
Valerie uses Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Solution-Focused methods alongside Mindfulness techniques. CBT looks at links between thoughts, feelings and behaviours and is often used for anxiety, depression and obsessive thinking. Solution-Focused approaches concentrate on practical steps and small changes that move a person toward their goals rather than focusing only on problems. Mindfulness therapy introduces simple attention and breathing practices to reduce reactivity and improve coping with stress.Choosing the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will discuss goals, preferences and what has or hasn’t helped before, then agree a way forward together. That collaborative decision makes it easier to try methods that fit the person’s needs and to adjust the plan as therapy progresses.
Confirm the session formats available before booking, because the biography does not specify them. Online counselling can make it easier to fit sessions around work, family and travel by removing the need to travel to appointments. It can also allow for shorter check-ins when time is limited or for sessions without video if that is preferable. Registered or accredited professionals commonly use online work to maintain continuity of care and to offer flexible scheduling that fits everyday life.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
9+ years
Listed in
United Kingdom
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What issues does she work with?
She supports people with stress, anxiety, depression, relationship problems, grief and related concerns such as low self-esteem, anger, OCD and parenting stresses.
What is her counselling style?
Her style is pragmatic and change-focused, using questions to identify what keeps a problem going and steps that might help break those patterns.
How much experience does she have?
She has nine years of experience in counselling and psychotherapy practice.
What are her professional credentials and where does she practise?
She is a member of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and practises in the United Kingdom.
Which languages are sessions offered in?
Sessions are offered in English.
Does she accept international clients?
She does not accept international clients at this time.
How are sessions arranged and what formats are available?
Please confirm current session formats before booking by checking the online counselling options; the biography does not list specific session formats.
How are fees handled and how do I begin?
Fees vary with location and sessions use a subscription that can be cancelled at any time. To begin, select the "See online counselling options" button, complete the short matching questionnaire and schedule a first session.
Checking a registration
Professional bodies keep public registers. If Valerie lists a membership, you can look it up on that body's own website:
Online counselling is not emergency or medical care. In immediate danger? Crisis numbers