Elizabeth Pickford, BACP

Elizabeth Pickford is a fully qualified counsellor and restorative mediator who works with people facing anxiety, trauma and attachment difficulties, shame, childhood sexual abuse, alcohol and substance misuse, bereavement, relationship challenges and adoption-related issues. She brings a person-centred way of working that encourages exploration of thoughts, feelings and beliefs so each person can deepen their self-understanding and move toward meaningful change.

Alongside her counselling practice she has extensive experience working with children and families, spanning more than 25 years, and she also holds registration with BACP - the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy. Elizabeth combines authenticity, integrity and a connected therapeutic stance to support clients through grief, addiction, parenting and intimacy-related concerns as well as mood difficulties such as depression and bipolar-related challenges.

Clients can expect a supportive, respectful environment where the therapeutic relationship is used as a foundation for growth. Elizabeth aims to work collaboratively to identify goals and practical steps for coping with life changes, rebuilding self-esteem, managing stress and strengthening relationships, whether clients are seeking short-term help or longer-term support.

Approaches that guide online work with relationships and trauma

Elizabeth Pickford draws on Attachment-Based Therapy to explore how early relationships shape current patterns of relating and emotional responses, which can help with intimacy issues, family dynamics and attachment difficulties. She also uses Client-Centred Therapy, a person-focused approach that emphasises empathy and acceptance so clients can explore feelings at their own pace and build self-understanding and confidence. Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT) is used to pay attention to emotions in the moment and to help partners or individuals identify and change unhelpful interaction cycles that maintain distress.

Choosing the right approach is part of the therapeutic process and Elizabeth works collaboratively with each person to identify which methods fit their needs, goals and preferences. She tailors sessions to what feels most useful, and can combine elements from different approaches as the work develops.

Online therapy offers practical flexibility - sessions can take place by video call, over the phone, via live chat or through text-based messaging - making it easier to fit support around work, family and daily life. For many people this accessibility helps maintain consistency of care and supports steady progress with registered professionals and therapists who can adapt their methods to an online format.