Zaida Fontes, NCPS

Zaida Fontes is a UK-registered counsellor with NCPS credentialing and nine years of professional experience supporting people through difficult life transitions. She has worked with individuals facing addictions, trauma and abuse, low self-esteem and confidence struggles, depression, bereavement and grief, and other challenges that can disrupt daily life. Zaida approaches each person with respect for their knowledge of their own story, believing that people bring strengths and resources that can be leaned on during recovery and growth.

Clients who work with Zaida can expect a warm, nonjudgmental presence and practical support aimed at building resilience and clearer coping strategies. She emphasizes collaboration, helping clients identify goals and steps that feel manageable while offering evidence-informed techniques drawn from her training. Whether someone is navigating loss, family difficulties, parenting concerns, or the long-term impacts of trauma, Zaida focuses on creating a steady therapeutic relationship to explore emotions, patterns, and possibilities for change.

Taking the first step toward therapy can feel daunting, and Zaida acknowledges the courage that requires. She is available to support clients through that process, offering compassionate guidance and practical tools to help them move toward a more fulfilling and balanced life.

Therapeutic approaches and online care

Zaida draws on attachment-based work to explore how early relationships shape patterns in current connections and emotional responses - this approach helps people understand fears around abandonment, trust, and intimacy so they can build more secure relationships. She also uses client-centered therapy, which centers the client's own goals and pace and provides empathic listening and unconditional positive regard to support self-directed growth. In addition, elements of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) are used to teach practical skills for managing intense emotions, improving interpersonal effectiveness, and tolerating distress.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process and Zaida treats this as a collaborative effort. She works with each client to identify which methods fit their needs, goals, and personal preferences, and adjusts the plan over time as progress and priorities evolve.

Online therapy with Zaida is offered via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging, providing flexibility for different schedules and comfort levels. These options make it easier to maintain continuity of care when life is busy or when travel and distance are barriers, while allowing clients to choose the format that feels most supportive for their healing and growth.