Benjamin (Ben) Stanley, BACP, NCPS

Benjamin (Ben) Stanley is a counsellor registered with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and the National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society (NCPS). He has four years of experience helping people facing stress, anxiety, grief, low self-esteem and life changes. Ben believes people bring strengths and knowledge about their own lives to each session.

Ben works in a collaborative way. Early sessions focus on understanding what has changed and what the person wants to be different. He asks questions, listens closely and helps people notice their own resources rather than handing out advice. Sessions are practical and paced to each person's comfort.

His background includes supporting people with depression, workplace and career concerns, and relationship or family-related stress. He also has experience with caregiver strain, end-of-life and hospice issues, panic attacks, social anxiety and coping with disasters. That experience informs how he tailors conversations to the situation.

Ben uses Client-Centred Therapy to keep sessions focused on the person and their experience. He also draws on Motivational Interviewing when people want to find motivation for change. Together these approaches aim to make sessions feel respectful and action-focused when needed.

People who value a gentle, non-directive style may find his approach helpful. He encourages taking small steps and building on what already works. To begin, he asks people to bring how they feel and what they notice, and the work starts from there.

How Ben’s approaches translate to online counselling

Client-Centred Therapy puts the person’s experience at the centre of sessions. The counsellor follows the person’s lead, listens without judgement and helps them clarify what matters. This approach is useful for stress, anxiety, grief and relationship concerns because it focuses on the person’s feelings and values.

Motivational Interviewing helps where people feel stuck or unsure about change. It uses respectful questions to draw out a person’s own reasons for change and to build motivation in small steps. This can be helpful for issues like low confidence, procrastination, and making lifestyle or career moves.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. Ben will discuss what feels most helpful and adapt his way of working to the person’s goals and preferences. He aims to make decisions together about pace, focus and next steps.

Please confirm which session formats are currently offered before booking, as formats are not specified here. Online sessions can make it easier to fit counselling into a busy week, reduce travel and allow a quicker check-in on difficult days. Some people prefer shorter conversations by phone when they do not want to be on camera, while others choose longer video sessions for deeper discussions.