Zarmeena Afridi, HCPC

Zarmeena Afridi is a Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) registered practitioner psychologist with more than 15 years of experience. She focuses on helping people cope with anxiety, stress, depression, trauma, grief and related mood difficulties. Her style is warm and collaborative, and she works alongside clients to find practical ways forward.

She has worked in hospitals, community services, emergency response roles, substance misuse and rehabilitation settings, and in public health and research. Those varied roles have given her experience with many different backgrounds and life situations. This helps her tailor support to what each person brings to therapy.

Zarmeena uses familiar, evidence-based methods such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, mindfulness and solution-focused techniques. Sessions are shaped around clear goals and step-by-step strategies that people can try between meetings. She emphasises empathy and practical problem solving rather than jargon.

She also draws on personal experience of loss and recovery, and that perspective informs a grounded, hopeful approach. The work aims to build resilience, reduce distress, and help people reconnect with meaningful daily routines and relationships. Zarmeena speaks English, Hindi, Pushto and Urdu, which can help when cultural context matters.

To begin, clients complete a short matching questionnaire and then arrange sessions according to scheduling options. Fees vary by location and therapist availability, and sessions use a subscription that can be cancelled at any time.

How specific approaches work in online therapy

Client-Centred Therapy places the person and their goals at the centre. The therapist listens with curiosity and reflects back what matters most, helping people name priorities and make choices. This approach can help with distress, grief and confidence around life changes.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on spotting unhelpful thoughts and testing them with real-life actions. Sessions often include simple exercises and practical tasks to try between meetings, which can reduce anxiety and panic symptoms over time.

Finding the right approach is part of the work together. The therapist will discuss options, try different methods where helpful, and adjust based on the client's needs and preferences. That shared decision-making helps shape a plan that fits the person rather than forcing a single method.

If you are considering online therapy, check with the service about the exact session formats offered before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit meetings into a busy life, reduce travel time and allow shorter check-ins when needed. Registered or accredited professionals can use focused exercises, mindfulness practices and problem-solving tasks in an online setting to keep progress moving between sessions.