Ilkay Alici, BACP

Ilkay Alici is a counsellor and psychotherapist who brings extensive professional knowledge to her work and is a member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). She specialises in supporting individuals and couples with a broad range of concerns, including stress and anxiety, trauma and abuse, grief and loss, parenting challenges, addiction, and relationship difficulties.

Ilkay recognises that reaching out for support can feel difficult, and she frames that first step as a sign of strength. Her practice focuses on creating a welcoming, compassionate, non-judgemental space where clients can explore their thoughts and emotions openly. She works collaboratively with each person or couple to understand their situation and identify practical ways to move forward.

Across sessions Ilkay aims to help clients build stronger relationships and a more balanced, meaningful life. She offers steady support throughout the therapeutic process and is committed to helping people navigate change, cope with loss, and develop greater resilience. Ilkay holds BACP membership, which indicates alignment with professional standards set by the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy.

Approaches that inform online therapy with Ilkay

Ilkay uses Client-Centred Therapy to place the client at the centre of the process, offering empathic listening and support to help people clarify their feelings and make their own decisions. This approach is useful for issues involving self-esteem, life transitions, and relationship concerns.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is used to help clients identify unhelpful thought patterns and develop practical strategies to change behaviours and emotional reactions. CBT can be helpful for anxiety, stress, low mood, and coping with difficult situations.

Mindfulness Therapy supports clients in developing present-moment awareness and gentle acceptance of experience, which can reduce rumination and increase emotional regulation. It is often applied alongside other approaches to support stress management and wellbeing.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process. Ilkay will work collaboratively with each client to identify which methods best match their needs, goals, and preferences, adjusting the plan as progress is made.

Online sessions - via video calls, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging - provide flexibility for different schedules and life circumstances. These options make it easier for registered professionals like Ilkay to reach clients across locations and for clients to access consistent support without travelling.