Ruth Barrett, BACP

Ruth Barrett is a person-centred counsellor with a Master’s in Clinical Counselling, a postgraduate qualification that underpins her clinical practice, and she holds Accredited Registered Membership of the BACP (British Association for Counsellors and Psychotherapists). She brings a warm, caring and dependable presence to her work, combining formal training in person-centred humanistic therapy with a particular interest in complex trauma, adverse childhood experiences and early-life attachment difficulties. As a certified CBT therapist, she also integrates cognitive behavioural techniques to help clients build practical coping skills and resilience.

Ruth’s experience includes private practice and work with a charitable organisation in Chester, providing counselling to individuals, children and families referred by the NHS, local authorities and social services. Before specialising in counselling, she spent more than twenty-five years in education, primarily with young people aged 11 to 18, which has informed her understanding of how childhood adversity can shape later life.

She works with people of all ages and backgrounds and tailors an integrative approach that may draw on person-centred, psychodynamic, attachment-based and CBT methods depending on each person’s needs. Ruth supports people facing relationship difficulties, grief and bereavement, mood disorders, trauma including sexual assault, anxiety and panic, obsessive-compulsive issues, disordered eating and other life transitions.

Ruth offers an initial session so prospective clients can decide whether to proceed, after which therapy can continue as a block of fixed sessions or more open-ended work. She practices in line with the BACP Ethical Framework, maintains regular formal supervision in accordance with BACP requirements, completes annual continuing professional development and is fully insured.

Evidence-based approaches delivered through online sessions

Ruth Barrett combines person-centred and cognitive behavioural approaches to support people working through difficult life experiences. Person-centred therapy focuses on listening, empathy and helping clients access their own resources for change - it is often useful for grief, relationship difficulties, issues of self-worth and navigating life transitions. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) offers a structured way of identifying unhelpful thoughts and behaviours and developing practical strategies to reduce anxiety, panic, mood difficulties and obsessive patterns.

She also draws on attachment-informed ideas to explore how early relationships influence current patterns, particularly in work with trauma, codependency and relationship problems. Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process - Ruth works collaboratively with each person to decide which methods best match their needs, goals and preferences, adjusting the plan as therapy progresses.

Online therapy with Ruth is offered by registered professionals using video calls, phone sessions, live chat or text-based messaging, which makes it easier to fit therapy around work, family and mobility needs. These options support continuity of care and flexibility, allowing people to access consistent therapeutic support from a setting that suits them.