Carmen Castillo, BACP

Carmen Castillo is an integrative counsellor with 10 years of experience supporting people through anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, relationship difficulties and major life transitions. She works with a wide range of concerns including addiction, low self-esteem, sleeping difficulties, anger, career stress and compassion fatigue, and offers understanding for those facing multicultural challenges, immigration issues or identity-related stress. Carmen invites clients into a gentle, supportive and non-judgmental space where they work collaboratively to explore current struggles alongside formative experiences and attachment patterns, with the aim of reconnecting with inner resources for healing and change.

Her practice blends person-centred principles with evidence-informed methods such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and mindfulness-based techniques, chosen to fit each person rather than applying a single model. Carmen takes a holistic view that considers feelings, body, mind and spirit, and encourages self-care, self-compassion and emotional connection as routes to greater clarity and wellbeing. She is comfortable working with diverse sexual orientations and gender identities and attends sensitively to cultural differences while supporting clients through issues like domestic violence, dependent personality patterns, infidelity, chronic illness, addiction and loss.

Carmen is a registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), the professional body for counsellors and psychotherapists in the United Kingdom. She practices according to the BACP Ethical Framework and aims to build a nurturing therapeutic relationship that helps people change unhelpful thinking and behaviour and move toward more fulfilling lives.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Support

Carmen often draws on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Attachment-Based and Client-Centered approaches to help people navigate emotional pain and life change. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on helping people notice difficult thoughts and feelings without being controlled by them, and on clarifying personal values to guide meaningful action - it can be useful for anxiety, depression and distress linked to life transitions.

Attachment-Based Therapy explores how early relationships shape current patterns in intimacy, trust and emotional regulation, helping clients understand and revise unhelpful relational dynamics that contribute to repeated difficulties. Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes a warm, non-judgmental therapeutic relationship in which the therapist listens deeply and supports the client’s own capacity for growth and self-understanding, which can be especially helpful for issues of self-esteem, identity and grief.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process and Carmen works collaboratively with each person to identify methods that fit their needs, goals and preferences. She adapts techniques over time so therapy remains relevant and practical.

Online therapy offers flexible ways to connect - through video calls, phone sessions, live chat or text-based messaging - which can make it easier to attend sessions around work, family or time zone differences. These options also support continuity of care for people who travel or live abroad, and allow registered professionals like Carmen to provide consistent support from different locations.