Anna Koolen, BACP

Anna Koolen is a UK-licensed therapist with five years of clinical experience who supports people navigating stress, anxiety and addictions while facing life transitions. She works from the belief that each person is the expert on their own story and that existing strengths can be mobilised to overcome challenges. Anna creates a calm, nonjudgmental space where clients can explore feelings around grief, low self-esteem, relationship difficulties, trauma and other concerns such as career pressures, ADHD and depression.

With a focus on practical coping strategies and longer-term personal insight, she helps clients address a wide range of issues including substance and behavioural addictions, attachment and blended family problems, codependency and communication difficulties. Anna also offers guidance for those dealing with control issues, divorce, isolation, guilt and questions about life purpose. She is registered with the BACP - the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy - which is the professional body for counsellors and psychotherapists in the UK.

Taking the first step toward change often requires courage, and Anna aims to walk alongside clients as they work toward a more fulfilling and happier life. Her approach blends empathy with practical support so clients can identify goals, build resilience and move forward at a pace that suits them.

Therapeutic approaches and online support

Anna draws on client-centered therapy, existential therapy and motivational interviewing to support online clients. Client-centered therapy focuses on creating an accepting, empathic environment where the client’s experience is central - it helps people build self-esteem, process emotions and find their own solutions. Existential therapy explores meaning, responsibility and life choices, which can be useful for those facing midlife questions, life purpose concerns or major transitions. Motivational interviewing is a collaborative, goal-oriented method that helps people resolve ambivalence and strengthen motivation for change - it is often applied in work around addictions and behaviour change.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapy process. Anna will work collaboratively with each client to determine which methods best fit their needs, goals and preferences, and she adapts the focus as circumstances evolve.

Online therapy with Anna is offered via video calls, phone sessions, live chat and text-based messaging, allowing for flexible scheduling and access from different locations. These options make it easier to maintain continuity of care while balancing work, family and other commitments, and they support a range of communication styles so clients can choose what feels most comfortable.