SA Portrait of Sayma Arshad

Sayma Arshad, BACP

Experienced BACP counsellor for anxiety and stress

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

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About Sayma

Sayma Arshad is a BACP counsellor with 13 years' experience supporting people through stress and anxiety. She presents a calm, patient manner and aims to make first conversations feel straightforward and safe. Sayma listens closely and helps clients find practical ways to cope with difficult feelings.

Her background includes social work and frontline roles in the NHS, social services and charities. That work gives her a broad view of how life events, relationships and diagnosis can affect daily functioning.

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Background and approach

She has worked alongside mental health professionals and with people who have learning disabilities and complex needs. Sayma uses a blend of approaches to suit each person's needs. She draws on client-centred and attachment-based ideas to build trust.

Cognitive behavioural techniques and mindfulness are used to help manage anxious thoughts and stress. Emotion-focused ideas support work on relationships and intimacy-related concerns. She has experience with a wide range of issues including depression, grief, relationship problems, parenting strain, trauma and addiction.

She also supports people dealing with ADHD, bipolar, eating and sleeping difficulties, anger and career-related stress. Sayma pays attention to each client's goals and tailors sessions to practical change. In sessions she aims to be warm and interactive, combining logical problem-solving with an intuitive sense of what each person needs.

Her practice emphasises a steady therapeutic relationship and short-term strategies alongside deeper exploration when useful. People can expect straightforward language and step-by-step plans as well as space to tell their story.

How Sayma's approaches work online

Sayma uses client-centred work to prioritise what matters most to the person. This approach means sessions focus on listening, building a trusting relationship and letting the client lead the pace of work. It helps when someone needs to be heard and understood before making changes.

She also uses cognitive behavioural therapy, which looks at thoughts and behaviours that keep anxiety and stress high. CBT helps with practical tools such as spotting unhelpful thinking patterns and testing small behavioural changes to reduce worry.

Finding the right approach is part of the process and the therapist will work together with the client to choose methods that suit their goals and preferences. That means trying things out, checking what helps and adjusting the plan when needed so work stays relevant.

Online therapy offers flexible ways to meet. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation and visual cues, phone sessions work well when bandwidth is limited, and live chat or text-based messaging can fit short check-ins or people who prefer written reflection. These options make it easier to fit therapy around work, family and travel while keeping a steady therapeutic relationship with registered or accredited professionals.
Book with Sayma Now Review online therapy options and next steps.

Questions people ask

What concerns does this counsellor help with?
She supports people with stress, anxiety, depression, grief and relationship issues, plus trauma, addictions and self-esteem struggles.
What is the therapy style like?
The approach is collaborative and down-to-earth, blending client-centred listening with CBT tools, attachment ideas and mindfulness practices.
How much experience does she have?
She has 13 years' experience working across the NHS, social services and charity settings alongside other mental health professionals.
What credentials and location are listed?
She holds BACP and is based in the United Kingdom.
Can sessions be conducted in other languages or with international clients?
Sessions are offered in English and international clients are accepted.
Which session formats are available?
Sessions can be arranged as video calls, phone sessions, live chat or text-based messaging.
How are costs handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be cancelled at any time.
What are the first steps to begin therapy?
Click the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, then schedule sessions according to the therapist's availability.

What this therapist works with

Most often

Also listed

Experience
13 years
Licensed
Languages
English

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