Atifa Begum

Atifa Begum is a BACP counsellor with three years' experience working with students, young people and adults. She focuses on building a trusting relationship so people can talk about what matters to them. Her approach centres on listening, empathy and practical support to help clients manage stress and anxiety.

She has supported people with low mood, self-esteem concerns and academic stress. She also helps with identity questions and relationship difficulties that come from navigating different cultures. Isolation and loneliness are part of the areas she pays attention to when they affect daily life.

Atifa draws on person-centred work to follow each person's pace and priorities. She combines that with solution-focused techniques to set clear, achievable steps between sessions. Her style is flexible and adapts to what each individual finds helpful.

In sessions the emphasis is on being heard and on small, practical changes. She uses active listening and reflective questions to help people make sense of their feelings. Conversations may include exploring patterns, testing new ways of communicating, and agreeing simple tasks to try between meetings.

People who value a warm, down-to-earth counsellor may find her approach useful. She aims to create a non-judgemental space where clients can work through grief, family stress, body image concerns and issues such as guilt or shame. If someone wants support with life purpose or social anxiety, she can help them clarify next steps.

How therapeutic approaches translate to online counselling

Atifa uses person-centred work to create a supportive space where the person's concerns come first. This approach focuses on listening, reflecting feelings back and following the client's lead to make sense of what they are experiencing.

She also uses solution-focused techniques that break problems into small, manageable steps. These methods help identify practical actions and build short-term goals, which can suit issues like stress, academic pressure and low mood.

Finding the right approach is part of the process and happens together. The therapist will discuss different ways of working, check what feels useful, and adjust methods to match the client's goals and preferences in a collaborative way.

Confirm current session options before booking so you know what formats are available. Online work can make it easier to fit counselling around a busy day, reduce travel time and allow quicker check-ins when needed. Different ways of meeting can suit quieter surroundings, shorter check-ins or conversations where being on camera is optional. Ask about formats when you book to choose what will fit your routine.