Counsellor profile
Valerie Stanley-Brooks, BACP
BACP counsellor - family and relationship support
Continue with ValerieAbout
- Stress and anxiety
- Parenting challenges
- Trauma-focused work
About Valerie
Valerie Stanley-Brooks is a counsellor registered with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) with 25 years of practice in the United Kingdom. She works with adults on a wide range of issues, including stress, anxiety, trauma, grief, self-esteem and relationship concerns. She also supports people dealing with parenting challenges and other family-related difficulties.
Her background spans educational, therapeutic and voluntary settings. That variety means she has experience listening to people from many different circumstances and life stages. She draws on several approaches rather than using a single method for every person.
In practical terms, Valerie uses client-centred ways of working to prioritise what the person wants to address. She also applies cognitive behavioural techniques to look at thoughts and behaviours, and psychodynamic ideas to consider how past patterns can affect current life. Solution-focused and trauma-focused methods are used where they fit a person's situation.
Sessions tend to focus on clear, manageable steps rather than abstract theory. Valerie offers materials and resources to support work between meetings, including exercises and reflections. Her aim is to help people find practical ways to cope with change, manage stress, and improve relationships.
Adults seeking help for parenting stress, relationship strain, addiction concerns, or life transitions can expect straightforward, conversational sessions. Valerie encourages a collaborative approach to planning goals and checking progress as work continues.
How sessions work
Therapeutic approaches used online and how they help
Client-centred therapy focuses on listening and responding to what the person brings. It helps adults who want to sort out feelings about parenting, relationships or life changes by setting the pace and priorities together.Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) looks at how thoughts and behaviours interact. It is useful for stress, anxiety, low mood and some eating or sleeping problems because it follows clear steps and practical exercises.
Psychodynamic therapy pays attention to past patterns that keep repeating now. That approach can help people understand long-standing family-of-origin issues, commitment worries or patterns in relationships.
Finding the right approach is part of the work. Valerie will discuss options and help decide which combination fits a person's needs, goals and preferences. That decision is collaborative and can be reviewed as therapy progresses.
If you plan to meet online, confirm the current session options before booking since the biography does not list formats. Online sessions can make it easier to fit appointments into a busy life, shorten commute time, allow a quieter check-in during a work break, or avoid needing to be on camera for the whole session. Registered or accredited professionals can adapt these approaches for remote sessions and will discuss practical arrangements when you schedule the first appointment.
Areas of focus
Areas of expertise
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
25+ years
Listed in
United Kingdom
Languages
English
Questions
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of family or parenting concerns are addressed?
She helps people with parenting challenges, blended family issues, fatherhood concerns and family-of-origin problems.
What is her general approach in sessions?
She blends client-centred listening with cognitive behavioural and psychodynamic ideas, using whatever methods suit the person's goals.
How long has she practised?
She has 25 years of professional experience across educational, therapeutic and voluntary settings.
What credential does she hold and where is she based?
She is a registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and works in the United Kingdom.
Can I work with her if I live outside the UK?
International clients are accepted and sessions can be arranged for people outside the United Kingdom.
Which session formats does she offer?
Please confirm current session options before booking, as the biography does not list specific formats.
How are fees handled?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be cancelled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
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.