Jonathan Wilkes, BACP

Jonathan Wilkes is an integrative counsellor based in central Bristol who works with people both online and face-to-face. He brings several years of direct counselling experience together with earlier roles supporting adults and young people with complex mental health needs, and he emphasises a warm, accepting approach that prioritises attentive listening and emotional safety.

He commonly works with depression, anxiety, anger, loss and grief, relationship difficulties, childhood trauma, self-esteem struggles, repetitive negative thoughts and behaviours, suicidal feelings and self-harm, eating disorders, emotional dysregulation and borderline presentations, and challenges arising from major life changes. He also supports people navigating contemporary stresses such as eco-anxiety and the pressures of modern life, and he addresses a wide range of additional concerns including attachment and abandonment, codependency, body image, isolation, impulsivity, and issues around control and communication.

Jonathan describes his practice as grounded in empathy, congruence and unconditional acceptance - principles that create a reliable therapeutic foundation. He works at the client’s pace and values the development of trust over time, recognising that deeper honesty and personal insight often emerge as the relationship grows. Psychosynthesis is central to his training and practice; this adaptable, integrative framework is used alongside techniques from approaches such as cognitive behavioural therapy, dialectical behaviour therapy, mindfulness and solution-focused work, together with breathing, meditation and body-awareness methods.

His formal qualifications include a Post-Graduate Diploma in Psychosynthesis, a BSc (Hons) in Psychology, a certificate in Regression Therapy, a 500-hour yoga teacher training certificate, and a foundation qualification in Ayurvedic Astrology. He is also associated with the BACP - the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy. Jonathan welcomes emotional expression during sessions and supports clients through exploration, healing and the gradual uncovering of life patterns that shape current experience.

Therapeutic approaches for effective online counselling

Jonathan Wilkes draws on client-centred therapy and cognitive behavioural therapy as core methods in his online work. Client-centred therapy focuses on creating a supportive, non-judgemental environment where the person leads the pace and content of sessions - this helps with self-esteem, processing grief, and building greater self-understanding. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) looks at links between thoughts, feelings and behaviours and uses practical strategies to reduce anxiety, low mood and unhelpful patterns of thinking.

He also uses elements of dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) when emotional regulation, impulsivity or intense interpersonal difficulties are present. DBT teaches skills for tolerating distress, managing emotions and improving relationships, which can be especially useful for people who experience strong mood swings or challenges with emotional control. Jonathan approaches therapy collaboratively - he will work with each person to identify which methods fit their needs, goals and preferences and adapt techniques as the work unfolds.

Online therapy with Jonathan offers practical flexibility - sessions can take place by video call or phone, and shorter or more frequent contacts are possible through live chat or text-based messaging. This range of options makes it easier to maintain continuity of care around work, family and travel commitments and allows therapists and clients to find rhythms and formats that best support the therapeutic process.