Counsellor profile
Simon Barkley, BACP
BACP counsellor - family and parenting focus
Continue with SimonAbout
- Stress and anxiety
- Addictions and recovery
- CBT and client-centred
About Simon
Simon Barkley is a BACP counsellor in the United Kingdom with eight years' experience. He works with adults facing stress, anxiety, addictions, anger, low self esteem, grief, sleep problems, depression and life changes. He also lists relationship and family concerns among his areas of focus.
He uses practical talking work. Sessions begin by finding what matters most to the person. He listens for strengths and patterns, then suggests small ways to test different approaches. He combines client-centred listening with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy techniques and other approaches to address thoughts, behaviours and daily habits.
Simon also works with people dealing with trauma, domestic violence, substance use and codependency. He helps people talk through difficult past experiences such as abandonment, attachment issues and divorce or separation. He offers support around motivation, career pressures and compassion fatigue that can follow emotionally demanding roles.
His style is direct and collaborative. He will outline tasks or experiments between sessions when these seem helpful. He uses motivational interviewing to support change and the Gottman Method ideas for relationship communication where appropriate.
Simon asks people to start by completing a short matching questionnaire and scheduling an initial session. He notes that session arrangements and cost vary by location and that subscriptions used for sessions can be cancelled at any time.
How sessions work
How his approaches translate to online sessions
Client-Centred Therapy focuses on listening and reflecting what the person says. It helps people feel heard and clarifies what they want to change. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at how thoughts and behaviours keep problems going and uses short exercises to test new ways of thinking and acting. Motivational Interviewing helps people find their own reasons to change and is useful for addictions, procrastination and low motivation.Finding the right mix of approaches is part of the work. The therapist will discuss goals and preferences, and together they will try methods that fit the person's situation. Adjustments can be made if something does not feel helpful, and the plan can evolve as progress is made.
The biography does not specify which online session formats are offered, so please confirm current options before booking. Many people find online sessions make it easier to fit therapy into a busy day, reduce travel time and allow shorter check-ins when needed. If someone prefers less visual contact, options such as audio-only or brief focused sessions may suit lower-bandwidth situations, but confirm with the therapist which formats he actually provides.
Areas of focus
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
8+ years
Listed in
United Kingdom
Languages
English
Questions
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of family and parenting concerns does he address?
He lists relationship and family concerns and helps people deal with communication problems, codependency, divorce and separation, and parenting strain as individual issues.
How would he work with my anxiety or depression?
He uses client-centred conversations alongside Cognitive Behavioral Therapy techniques to identify unhelpful thoughts and try practical changes between sessions.
How much experience does he have?
Simon has eight years of professional experience working with issues such as addiction, anger, bereavement and trauma.
What are his credentials and where is he based?
He is listed with the BACP and is based in the United Kingdom.
Can I have sessions in a language other than English?
Sessions are offered in English.
Does he work with international clients?
He accepts international clients; check session details when booking to confirm logistics.
How are sessions arranged and what do they cost?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription model that can be cancelled at any time.
What do I need to do to start with him?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Details come from information the counsellor supplied to BetterHelp. A registration can be checked with the body that issued it.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If anyone is in danger, use the crisis numbers.