Layla Kareem, BACP

Layla Kareem helps people facing stress, anxiety, depression and the ups and downs of major life changes. She supports those dealing with relationship strain, self-esteem struggles, grief, trauma and abuse, and intimacy-related issues. Layla also works with people managing sleeping problems, career concerns, bipolar symptoms, compassion fatigue and substance-related issues. She is identified by her BACP credential, which means she is registered with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy.

Layla offers a calm, non-judgemental space where people can talk through what matters to them. Her approach is flexible and driven by the person in front of her. She uses person-centred listening so clients feel heard, alongside psychodynamic ideas that look at patterns from the past and how they show up now.

She draws on attachment-based ideas to understand relationship patterns and on cognitive behavioural techniques to help with unhelpful thinking. Emotionally-Focused Therapy influences her work when emotions and connection are central topics. Existential themes are woven in for people questioning meaning, purpose or identity.

Layla has six years of practice experience and works from the United Kingdom. Sessions are conducted through text-based conversations only, as noted in her practice details. She invites people to say what they need and to shape the work around their goals.

To begin, she asks people to share a bit about themselves and what they hope to change. That initial conversation helps Layla and the client decide how to work together and what to focus on over time.

How her approaches work online

Layla integrates attachment-focused ideas and client-centred listening to make sense of relationship patterns and emotional needs. Attachment-based thinking looks at how early bonds shape current reactions, which can help when relationships or trust are difficult. Client-centred therapy puts the person's experience at the heart of the session and prioritises listening and responding to what the client brings.

She also uses cognitive behavioural techniques to identify unhelpful thinking and try practical alternatives. CBT-style work often involves noticing thoughts and trying small experiments to test them, which can be useful for anxiety, low mood or sleep problems. Finding the right mix is collaborative - she will work with each person to decide which approaches fit their goals and preferences.

Practical benefits of online work include fitting therapy into a busy life and having more choice about when to connect. Note that this therapist currently offers text-based sessions only, so check the session options before booking if you prefer a different format. Online work can make it easier to keep up with short check-ins, to reflect in writing, and to schedule sessions around work or caregiving commitments.