Sidonia Stiles , BACP

Sidonia Stiles, also known as Sonia, is an experienced counsellor based in the United Kingdom who combines a person-centred approach with relationship-focused work to support people through grief, anxiety, depression, stress and intimacy-related concerns. She has developed a broad practice working with individuals and couples, including members of the LGBT community, and addresses issues ranging from parenting and family dynamics to addiction, trauma and coping with life changes.

Before training as a counsellor, Sidonia spent ten years as a group worker for a local council, supporting residential young people and working with families around difficult relationship dynamics. That background informs her clinical focus on attachment, communication and the meanings people inherit from their upbringing. She uses tools such as genograms to map family relationships and patterns and draws on Gestalt ideas when helping people navigate bereavement and loss.

Sidonia is a registered counsellor with the BACP, the UK professional association for counselling and psychotherapy. She holds an HND Diploma (2006) in Person Centred counselling - a vocational higher education qualification focusing on client-led therapeutic skills - and a Level 5 Diploma in Relationship Therapy (2019) awarded by CPCAB, an advanced vocational qualification for relationship-focused practice. She runs a private practice in Eastbourne most evenings 6-8pm and at weekends and now offers online sessions to increase accessibility. Sidonia provides therapy in English and Portuguese and is accepting national and international clients.

Therapeutic approaches for online relationship and emotional work

Sidonia draws on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Attachment-Based Therapy alongside a person-centred foundation. ACT helps clients notice difficult thoughts and feelings without getting overwhelmed by them while identifying personal values to guide meaningful action - it can be useful for anxiety, stress and life transitions. Attachment-Based Therapy explores early relationship patterns and how they shape current connections, helping with relationship difficulties, intimacy issues and healing from abandonment or attachment wounds. Client-centred work places the client’s experience at the centre of the process, offering a non-directive, empathic stance that supports self-exploration and emotional processing.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic journey and Sidonia works collaboratively with each person to tailor methods to their needs, goals and preferences. Together they consider which techniques and perspectives best fit the issues being addressed.

Online therapy with Sidonia is offered by video call, phone, live chat or text-based messaging, providing flexibility for different schedules and communication styles. These options make it easier to attend sessions from home or when traveling, offer continuity during life changes, and allow people to choose the format that feels most comfortable for them while working with licensed professionals and therapists.