CH Portrait of Catherine Hirst

Catherine Hirst, BACP

Calm, person-centred counselling for anxiety and stress

3 years in practice · based in United Kingdom · sessions in English · online sessions

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About Catherine

Catherine Hirst is a counsellor who draws on three years of practice and a person-centred outlook to support people facing stress and anxiety. She holds BACP which she follows as her professional framework. Catherine aims to be approachable and warm in sessions and to build a trusting relationship that helps people feel heard and understood.

She believes an empathic attitude is a powerful part of change. In therapy she offers a calm space where people can talk through feelings, life stresses and difficult situations.

Book with Catherine Now Review online therapy options and next steps.

Background and approach

Conversations focus on what matters to the individual and move at a pace that feels manageable. Catherine's own life experience has shaped her decision to offer support. She helps people work through low mood, workplace pressures, relationship strains and disruptions such as separation and blended family challenges.

She also addresses issues like self-esteem, loneliness, prejudice and discrimination, and young adult concerns. Her work includes children in primary and secondary school as well as adults, and she uses a flexible, integrative style rather than a single technique. This lets her tailor sessions to each person’s needs while keeping a person-centred stance at the heart of the work.

Ethical practice matters to her and she follows the British Association for Counsellors and Psychotherapists code. Sessions can include talking, reflecting and practical coping ideas to help people manage anxiety and adapt to life changes.

Practical approaches for online anxiety and life stress

Catherine bases her work on the person-centred approach which focuses on empathy, genuineness and accepting the person as they are. That means sessions centre on listening closely and reflecting back what the client says, helping them to find their own ways forward. She also uses an integrative approach, combining elements from different evidence-based techniques to meet each person’s needs and goals.

Finding the best approach is a collaborative process. Catherine will work with the client to try methods that fit their situation and preferences, then adapt as progress is made. This may include exploring feelings, practising coping strategies and developing clearer communication for workplace or relationship challenges.

Online therapy offers practical flexibility. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation and visual cues. Phone sessions are useful when bandwidth is limited or a shorter check-in is needed. Live chat and text-based messaging make it easier to fit therapy around work or study and to keep contact between sessions. These options help people access consistent support for anxiety, stress and life changes from wherever they are in the United Kingdom.
Book with Catherine Now Review online therapy options and next steps.

Questions people ask

What kinds of problems does Catherine help with?
She supports people with stress, anxiety and low mood, along with self-esteem and workplace issues. She also addresses relationship difficulties, separation, blended family challenges and young adult issues.
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
Catherine works from a person-centred stance that emphasises empathy and listening. She combines that outlook with an integrative style to match sessions to each person’s needs.
What experience does she have?
Catherine has three years of counselling experience working with both primary and secondary school children and with adults. Her background includes supporting people through a range of life stresses.
What professional credentials and location are noted?
She is a member of the British Association for Counsellors and Psychotherapists (BACP) and practises in the United Kingdom.
Which languages are sessions offered in?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can international clients work together with her?
International clients are not currently accepted.
What session formats are available?
Therapy is offered by video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to suit different needs and schedules.
How are fees and getting started handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability and sessions use a subscription that can be cancelled at any time. To begin, select the Start Therapy button, complete the short matching questionnaire and schedule according to listed availability.

What this therapist works with

Most often

Experience
3 years
Licensed
Languages
English

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