Malik Akhtar, BACP

Malik Akhtar helps people facing stress, anxiety, addiction and life changes. He offers short and long-term work and aims to make therapy straightforward and practical. Malik uses everyday language to help clients talk about what matters most to them.

He has practised as a person-centred counsellor since 2002 and is registered with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, BACP. That means he follows the professional framework the BACP sets out. He draws on a mix of approaches to match each person’s needs rather than using a single method every time.

In sessions he looks to understand each person’s situation first. Then he works with them to set clear goals and practical steps. He uses listening, reflective questions and goal-focused tools to help people notice patterns and try new ways of coping.

Common concerns Malik supports include depression, trauma and abuse, grief, addiction, anger, self-esteem and ADHD-related struggles. He also helps with relationship strain, parenting pressures, work stress and career questions. Additional focuses include eating and sleeping problems, panic and obsessive behaviours, guilt and shame, and multicultural issues.

Sessions are offered in English, Punjabi and Urdu. Malik accepts international clients and adapts his approach to individual differences. To start, people choose the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire and then schedule according to the therapist’s availability.

How Malik's approaches translate to online therapy

Client-Centred Therapy focuses on understanding each person's experience through attentive listening and reflection. It helps when someone needs a space to talk, be heard, and build their own solutions. Mindfulness Therapy teaches simple awareness practices to notice thoughts and body sensations without judgement, which can reduce reactivity and support better sleep and stress management.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. Malik will talk with a client about their goals and preferences, then agree on which methods to try. That collaborative process means the plan can change over time if something isn't helpful.

If you plan to try online therapy, confirm the session formats before booking as the biography does not list them explicitly. Online sessions can make regular meetings easier to fit into a busy week, remove travel time and allow quieter check-ins during a lunch break or a short gap in the day. They also make it possible to work with a therapist who speaks English, Punjabi or Urdu even if you live elsewhere. Discuss practical arrangements with Malik when you schedule so sessions suit your routine and needs.