Angela Higgins, BACP

Angela Higgins began her helping career as a befriender supporting people affected by the Troubles in Northern Ireland. That early work led her to train as a counsellor and to focus on practical support for stress, anxiety and trauma. She brings 25 years of experience working with a wide range of concerns including depression, addictions and bereavement.

Her approach centres on the person in front of her. She uses Carl Rogers' Person-Centred ideas of empathy, openness and respect as a base. From there she often uses cognitive behavioural techniques to help people spot and change unhelpful thinking and behaviour patterns.

Over the years Angela has worked in addiction services, including four years in a local prison, and has supported people with panic attacks, agoraphobia and post-traumatic responses. She also helps with relationship and intimacy concerns, workplace stress, eating and sleeping difficulties, and long-term health issues such as chronic pain and illness.

In addition to talking therapies, she has trained in complementary healing methods such as Reiki and Indian head massage and uses these approaches when they suit a person’s needs and preferences. Angela aims to make sessions straightforward and practical, helping people build coping skills they can use between meetings.

To begin, she asks people to say what they want to change and what matters most to them. She then works collaboratively to set small, realistic steps and review progress over time.

How her approaches are used in online therapy

Angela works from a Person-Centred base that emphasises being heard and respected. This approach focuses on building a trusting relationship and helping people say what matters most to them. It is helpful for issues like low self-esteem, grief and coping with life changes.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, or CBT, complements that by giving clear tools to identify unhelpful thoughts and try different actions. CBT is often used for anxiety, panic, depression and some patterns of behaviour people want to change.

Finding the best approach is part of the work together. She will discuss goals and preferences and choose methods that fit the person's needs. Sessions are collaborative, with regular review so the plan can change if something else would help more.

The therapist's biography does not list specific session formats, so please confirm current options before booking. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy week, reduce travel time and allow a shorter check-in when needed. Registered or accredited professionals can tailor pace and homework to suit everyday life and help people practise new skills between sessions.