Chiara Stoten , BACP

Chiara Stoten practices as an integrative counsellor who adapts therapeutic methods to fit each person's unique needs. She draws on person-centred, humanistic, existential, psychodynamic, and solution-focused influences to create a tailored way of working, listening closely to what the individual wants from the therapeutic relationship and responding accordingly.

Her approach pays attention to links between past experiences and present life situations, helping people develop clarity and greater control at a pace that feels manageable. In practice this can mean exploring relational patterns, past trauma, or current stressors while keeping the client's goals at the centre of sessions.

Chiara has four years of private practice experience in the Bristol area and has worked with a wide range of issues including trauma, dissociation, abuse, depression, stress, anxiety, and relational difficulties. She has also been gaining recent experience working with autism and ADHD and has supported clients across the lifespan, including many young people in schools and universities as well as adults of various ages.

She holds BACP, a professional counselling association membership, and offers a compassionate, flexible style that recognises there is no single right way to heal. Her practice emphasises respect, listening, and collaboration to help people find what works best for them.

Therapeutic approaches for online support

Chiara uses client-centred and psychodynamic perspectives alongside solution-focused techniques to guide online work. Client-Centred Therapy emphasises empathy, acceptance, and the client's own capacity for growth - it helps when someone needs a supportive space to explore feelings, self-worth, and relationships. Psychodynamic Therapy explores how earlier experiences and unconscious patterns influence present behaviour and emotions, which can be useful for understanding recurring relationship issues, attachment patterns, and deeper emotional difficulties. Solution-Focused Therapy concentrates on practical steps and existing strengths to identify clear goals and small changes that move a person toward the outcomes they want.

Choosing the right approach is part of the collaborative process. Chiara discusses options with each person, considering their needs, goals, and preferences, and adapts the methods used so therapy feels relevant and manageable. This collaborative tailoring helps clients find the best fit rather than applying a one-size-fits-all model.

Online sessions by video call, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging offer flexibility for different schedules and communication styles. These formats make it easier to access licensed professionals without travel, to maintain continuity of care during life changes, and to choose the mode that feels most comfortable for the individual.