Profile / United Kingdom
Valerie Harmer, BACP
United Kingdom
BACP counsellor - anxiety and relationships
See online therapy options- CBT techniques
- Solution focused work
- Mindfulness exercises
About Valerie
Valerie Harmer is a BACP counsellor with nine years' experience in the United Kingdom. She works with stress, anxiety, relationship problems, grief, low self-esteem and a broad range of emotional and behavioural concerns. Valerie also supports people dealing with trauma, OCD, eating and sleeping difficulties, and the setbacks that come with life changes.
She takes a practical, question-led approach. Sessions focus on understanding what keeps a problem going and identifying small, do-able changes. Valerie uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy alongside solution-focused techniques and mindfulness to break unhelpful cycles of thinking and behaviour.
Valerie offers both short-term and longer-term work depending on what a person wants to achieve. She asks direct questions to build a clear picture of the issues, then gives straightforward feedback and suggested steps to try between sessions. This is aimed at helping people notice patterns and test new responses in everyday life.
Her training includes postgraduate study in counselling and CBT psychotherapy at the University of South Wales, a Diploma in Solution-Focused Hypnotherapy from the Clifton Practice, and bereavement counselling training with Cruse. She maintains professional practice through BACP membership and regular supervision.
People often come for help with relationship strain, anger, obsessions and compulsions, or feeling stuck after bereavement or separation. Valerie commonly blends behavioural suggestions, short structured tasks and mindfulness exercises to help with symptoms and practical coping. Sessions move at a steady, task-focused pace to support clear progress.
How Valerie uses structured approaches in online sessions
Valerie draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to identify unhelpful thoughts and habits and then tests practical alternatives. CBT sessions often involve short experiments, written exercises and behavioural tasks to do between meetings, which can help with anxiety, depression and obsessive thinking. She also uses Solution-Focused Therapy to pinpoint small, achievable changes and to map out clear next steps. This approach concentrates on what is already working and builds simple strategies that can be tried straight away. Mindfulness Therapy provides breathing and attention exercises to reduce reactivity and support emotional regulation. Choosing a method is a collaborative process. Valerie will discuss goals and preferences and then suggest which techniques to try first. She reviews progress and adapts the plan as needed so people can see what helps for them. Please confirm the current session options before booking, as formats are not listed here. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy into a weekday break, reduce travel time, or move straight into a short follow-up check-in when needed. Registered or accredited professionals often offer a mix of brief structured sessions and longer appointments to suit different goals.Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
9+ years
Listed in
United Kingdom
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of problems does she help with most often?
She helps with stress, anxiety, depression, relationship issues, grief, low self-esteem and life changes, plus OCD, eating and sleeping problems.
How does she use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in sessions?
CBT is used to spot unhelpful thoughts and behaviours and to try small practical changes. Sessions include structured questions and tasks to test new responses between meetings.
What experience does she bring to her work?
She has nine years' experience and postgraduate study in counselling and CBT psychotherapy, plus specialist training in solution-focused hypnotherapy and bereavement counselling.
What professional registration does she hold and where does she practise?
She is a member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and practises in the United Kingdom.
Which languages are sessions offered in?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can people outside the UK work with her?
International clients are not currently accepted.
How are sessions arranged and what do they cost?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription model that can be cancelled at any time.
What are the practical steps to begin with her?
Use the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule a first session.
Details come from information the counsellor supplied to BetterHelp. A registration can be checked with the body that issued it.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are not safe, use the crisis numbers.