Ilaria Calussi, BACP

Ilaria Calussi is a systemic and relational psychotherapist with 25 years of practice supporting individuals, couples, and families through complex life challenges. They trained across family therapy, gestalt therapy, trauma-informed CBT, therapeutic play, clinical supervision, and specialist approaches for autism and ADHD, and they adapts therapeutic work to suit the needs of each person, couple, or family.

Across a career that includes roles at Place2Be, Mind, Family Action, social care settings, and the NHS, Ilaria has managed school-based services, supervised children and families social care teams, and currently works at the National Autism Unit (NHS) supporting autistic people and their families. They also run a private practice and lecture in psychology and counselling at the Open University, bringing both clinical and teaching perspectives to their work.

Ilaria focuses on relationships, family dynamics, attachment, trauma and abuse, parenting, and neurodiversity including autism and ADHD. Their practice is grounded in systemic and intersectional principles, integrating attachment theory, neuroscience, and creativity to help people repair connections and build resilience. Personal experiences of solo parenting, neurodivergence, and queer relationships inform a down-to-earth, empathetic style that aims to create a supportive space for exploration and meaningful change. Ilaria holds BACP credentials - membership of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy - which reflects professional affiliation with a recognised counselling body.

Therapeutic approaches and how they translate to online care

Attachment-Based Therapy focuses on patterns of connection and trust formed in relationships. Online work using this approach supports people who are struggling with attachment issues, abandonment fears, or family relationships by exploring how past bonds shape current feelings and interactions.

Client-Centered Therapy places the client at the heart of the process, emphasising empathy, acceptance, and collaboration. Delivered remotely, this approach helps individuals feel heard and understood while they work through identity, parenting, or relational concerns at their own pace.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) offers practical ways to identify and shift unhelpful thoughts and behaviours. Online CBT can be effective for managing anxiety, stress, and some trauma-related responses by combining focused conversation with exercises and strategies between sessions.

Choosing the right approach is part of the therapeutic journey. Ilaria works collaboratively with clients to explore which methods fit their needs, goals, and preferences, adjusting style and tools as the relationship develops.

Online therapy via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging offers flexibility for people with busy schedules, mobility limits, or those living far from services. Registered professionals and therapists can provide consistent, accessible support across these formats, allowing clients to engage with therapy in ways that suit their lives.