Counsellor profile
Debbie Cooley, BACP
Counsellor - Addictions and Trauma
See online counselling options- Addictions
- Trauma and abuse
- Grief
About Debbie
Counsellor and BACP member, Debbie Cooley has five years of UK practice working with addictions, trauma and abuse, and grief. She works with people facing sexual assault, domestic violence, narcissistic abuse, drug and alcohol problems, and complex bereavement. Sessions are offered in English and international clients are accepted.
Debbie uses a psychotherapeutic, client-focused way of working. She mixes conversational approaches with practical tools. Clients can expect reflective dialogue and creative techniques to help make sense of difficult experiences.
Her work often centres on attachment issues, abandonment and relational problems. She also addresses panic, post-traumatic stress, self-harm, shame and guilt. This gives room to look at how past relationships affect current feelings and behaviour.
Debbie draws on cognitive behavioural ideas alongside mindfulness and motivational interviewing to support change. That can mean noticing unhelpful thinking patterns, practising present-moment skills, or finding small, achievable steps towards different choices.
She has experience with hospice and end-of-life counselling and with supporting men through specific issues. The approach is collaborative and paced to the person. To begin, clients complete a short matching questionnaire and then schedule a first session.
How her approaches are used in online counselling
Attachment-based work looks at how early relationships shape current feelings. It helps when past hurt or abandonment affects trust and close relationships. Client-centred work focuses on the person in front of the counsellor. It involves listening, reflective conversation and supporting the client to find their own understanding.Cognitive behavioural therapy, or CBT, is used to notice and change unhelpful thinking and behaviour patterns. It can help with panic, anxiety and repeated coping habits linked to addiction or trauma.
Choosing the right approach is part of the work together. The counsellor will discuss goals, personal preferences and practical needs and then suggest which methods to try. Decisions are made collaboratively and can be reviewed as therapy progresses.
Session formats are not specified in the supplied biography, so confirm current options before booking. Online sessions can make it easier to fit counselling into a busy week, reduce travel time and allow short check-ins when needed. They can also allow people to work from a quieter place or use video or phone if that suits them better.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
5+ years
Listed in
United Kingdom
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does she work with most?
She works with addictions, trauma and abuse, and grief. Other focus areas include panic, self-harm, shame, and relationship issues.
What is her therapeutic style?
Her style is psychotherapeutic and client-centred. She uses reflective dialogue, creative techniques and practical tools.
How much experience does she have?
She has five years of professional experience working in the United Kingdom.
Which professional body is she a member of?
She is registered with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, BACP.
Are sessions offered in other languages?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can clients outside the UK work with her?
International clients are accepted.
How are sessions charged?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be cancelled at any time.
What do I do to start therapy?
Select the See online counselling options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Details come from information the counsellor supplied to BetterHelp. A membership or registration can be checked on the professional body's own register.
Online counselling is not emergency care. In an emergency call 999, or see the help numbers.