Colette Safhill , BACP

Colette Safhill is a person-centred psychotherapist who trained at the University of Essex and brings 20 years of practice to her work. She is BACP accredited - a recognition from the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, the professional body for counselling and psychotherapy in the UK - and she maintains professional insurance. Colette works in a non-judgemental, client-focused way, attending closely to what each person brings into the room and tailoring her response to their experience.

Following initial qualification, she completed post-qualifying training in a range of areas including relationship therapy, trauma-related approaches, adoption and foster care issues, eating disorder work, domestic abuse support, and EMDR for processing traumatic memories. This additional training informs a flexible approach that meets the needs of people facing complex emotional difficulties.

Colette is experienced in offering therapy in different formats and is qualified to work online, by phone, and in person. Her practice emphasises respect, listening, and collaborative exploration of goals, helping individuals and families navigate change, heal from difficult experiences, and build more resourceful ways of coping.

Therapeutic approaches for online and remote work

Colette commonly draws on client-centred therapy, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), and EMDR in her work. Client-centred therapy focuses on providing an accepting, non-judgemental space where the therapist follows the client’s lead and supports self-directed growth - it is helpful for strengthening emotional insight and resilience. CBT addresses patterns of thinking and behaviour with practical strategies to reduce symptoms and improve day-to-day functioning, often used for anxiety, depression, and stress-related issues. EMDR is a trauma-focused approach that helps people process distressing memories and lessen their emotional impact, and it is often used where traumatic events continue to affect current life.

Finding the right therapeutic approach is part of the process, and Colette works collaboratively to identify which methods best fit a person’s needs, goals, and preferences. She adapts plans over time to respond to progress and changes in circumstances.

Online therapy with licensed professionals offers practical flexibility - sessions can take place by video call or phone, and many therapists also offer live chat or text-based messaging. These options make it easier to fit therapy into busy lives, access support from different locations, and choose the communication style that feels most comfortable while maintaining a focus on effective therapeutic work.