Sunah Akhtar, BACP

Sunah Akhtar is a psychotherapist and BACP member who supports people navigating stress, relationship challenges, trauma, and major life transitions. Based at The Awareness Centre in Clapham, she brings nine years of clinical experience and a person-centered approach to help clients develop greater emotional clarity and more effective coping strategies.

Across placements at WeStand and Renaissance Horizon, Sunah offered emotional and practical support to a wide range of clients, and she also provides online therapy through Betterhelp.com. Her practice addresses issues such as anxiety, panic attacks, depression, low self-esteem, shame, attachment difficulties, and the pressures of work-life balance. She works with both individual and relational concerns, including family dynamics, intimacy, grief, addictions, and parenting challenges.

Sunah integrates evidence-based techniques, drawing on cognitive behavioral methods and mindfulness, while maintaining an empathic, person-centered stance that tailors care to each person’s needs. She aims to create a non-judgmental space where individuals can explore thoughts and feelings, build resilience, and pursue sustained personal growth. Outside her clinical work, Sunah’s interest in social entrepreneurship informs a compassionate, strengths-based orientation that emphasizes adaptability and meaningful change.

Approaches that guide online therapy and practical benefits

Sunah commonly draws on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and attachment-based work. ACT focuses on helping people accept difficult emotions while committing to actions that reflect their values - it can help with anxiety, low mood, and patterns that get in the way of meaningful living. CBT works with thoughts and behaviours to reduce distress and build coping skills, often used for anxiety, depression, and stress-related problems. Attachment-based therapy explores early relationship patterns and how they affect current connections, making it useful for relationship difficulties, intimacy issues, and attachment concerns.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic journey. Sunah collaborates with each person to identify which methods fit their goals, needs, and preferences, adjusting the plan as progress unfolds with input from the client.

Online sessions - whether by video call, phone, live chat, or text messaging - offer flexibility for people with busy schedules, mobility limits, or who live far from in-person services. These options make it easier to maintain continuity of care, access different communication styles, and schedule appointments that suit daily life while working with registered professionals and therapists.