Esther Pinder, BACP

Esther Pinder is a UK-based integrative counsellor who combines academic training with practical experience to support people facing stress, anxiety, depression and relationship difficulties. She holds an Advanced Diploma in Integrative Counselling from the Iron Mill College in Exeter and a first class honours degree in Psychosocial Studies from Goldsmiths College, University of London. She is also registered with the BACP - the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy.

Esther works with a wide range of concerns including low self-worth, loss of identity, trauma and abuse, grief, eating and parenting issues, as well as challenges common in LGBT and blended family situations. In private practice she has supported people dealing with recent life changes and loss, and those who have lived with hidden or long-standing difficulties such as abuse and prolonged grief.

Her approach is grounded in the idea that connecting with different parts of oneself can reveal strengths and resources that have become hidden over time. To help break cycles of overthinking she draws on a variety of practical techniques - using metaphors and images to describe feelings, introducing helpful models to increase understanding, trying breathing and sensory grounding exercises to ease anxiety, and gently exploring the background and context that shape patterns of thought and behaviour.

Work with Esther typically takes place in weekly 50 minute video sessions scheduled in advance. Clients may also reflect or prepare for sessions by sharing writing through messaging; Esther reads messages and replies at set times, so messaging is intended for reflection rather than on-the-spot crisis support.

Integrative approaches delivered through online therapy

Esther draws on integrative counselling, which blends ideas and techniques from different therapeutic traditions to tailor sessions to each person's needs. This approach helps when concerns are complex or when someone needs a flexible mix of short-term strategies and deeper exploration.

She also uses grounding and breathing exercises that focus on the body and senses to reduce immediate tension and manage moments of high anxiety. These practical techniques are easy to practise between sessions and can help people feel steadier when emotions become overwhelming.

In addition, Esther uses metaphors, images and accessible models to make difficult experiences easier to understand and talk about. These tools can clarify unhelpful patterns and open up new ways of relating to oneself and others.

Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. Esther works with clients to identify goals, test techniques, and adjust the focus of therapy so the methods fit the client’s needs, preferences and pace.

Online sessions - including video calls, phone sessions, live chat or text-based messaging - offer practical flexibility for people balancing work, family or other commitments. Messaging can be useful for reflecting between sessions; Esther reads messages and replies at set times, which supports ongoing work while making it easier to access therapy from wherever the client is located.