Jacintha Canary, BACP

Jacintha Canary is a seasoned counsellor and mental health practitioner whose work spans more than 25 years, bringing a depth of experience to people facing stress, anxiety, family and relationship challenges, trauma and loss. She trained in person-centered counselling and holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Person-Centred Counselling, complemented by qualifications in primary teaching, sports coaching, community leadership and a certificate in the QSL Framework and Methodology. She is also registered with the BACP - the professional body for counsellors and psychotherapists in the United Kingdom.

Born in South Africa and now living in the United Kingdom, Jacintha draws on her experience as an immigrant and on years of direct practice with families, couples and individuals confronting domestic abuse, abandonment, addiction, cultural transition and complex trauma. Her work addresses a wide range of concerns including grief, self-esteem, parenting, intimacy and eating difficulties, as well as caregiving strain, career transitions and compassion fatigue. She combines a person-centered stance with trauma-aware approaches and body-oriented learning models such as QSL and HEAL to support integration of past and present experiences.

Jacintha frames therapy as a collaborative exploration rather than a delivery of ready-made answers. She emphasizes listening to both body and mind, facilitating self-exploration and practical steps toward resilience, forgiveness and healthier relationships. As a Christian who respects all faiths and none, she welcomes clients from diverse spiritual and cultural backgrounds and offers sessions in English and Afrikaans. Her international practice is available to people seeking flexible, experienced therapeutic support.

Approaches for Online Therapy and Personal Growth

Jacintha commonly uses client-centered therapy to create a respectful, non-directive space where the client leads the pace and focus of change - this approach helps with relationship issues, self-esteem, life transitions and the everyday stresses that people bring to therapy. Trauma-focused therapy is also central to her work and offers targeted ways to address the effects of past abuse, abandonment and other overwhelming experiences, helping clients process memories and reclaim functioning. Mindfulness therapy complements these approaches by teaching present-moment awareness and simple practices that reduce anxiety and improve emotional regulation.

Choosing the right approach is part of the therapeutic process rather than a one-time decision. Jacintha works collaboratively with each person to explore goals, preferences and practical needs, and she adapts methods over time to find the best fit for the client’s situation and stage of healing.

Online therapy with Jacintha is offered via video calls, phone sessions, live chat and text-based messaging, which provides flexibility for busy schedules, long-distance clients and those who prefer written communication. These options make it easier to maintain continuity of care during life changes and allow individuals to access registered professionals from different locations while tailoring the format to what feels most comfortable and effective for them.