Carmen Castillo, BACP

Carmen Castillo is a counsellor who helps people facing stress, anxiety, grief, depression and major life changes. She offers calm, non-judgemental support for relationship concerns, addiction, self-esteem and issues tied to identity. Sessions are offered in English and Spanish and she works with people from varied cultural backgrounds and sexual orientations.

Carmen invites clients to look at how past relationships and formative experiences affect present struggles. She uses a gentle, collaborative style that encourages clients to connect with emotions and inner resources. The aim is to notice unhelpful thinking and behaviour and to try practical alternatives that fit each person’s life.

Her practice draws on a range of approaches such as person-centred work, cognitive behavioural techniques, acceptance and commitment therapy and mindfulness. She describes her way of working as holistic, attending to feelings, the body and thinking patterns together. This gives room for practical tools alongside exploration of deeper emotional themes.

Carmen has ten years of experience and is a Member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, BACP. She follows the BACP Ethical Framework for the counselling professions in the United Kingdom.

She often supports people managing chronic pain, illness and disability, attachment and abandonment issues, immigration-related stress, compassion fatigue and problems with intimacy. Carmen aims to help people build self-compassion and clearer ways of living that match their values.

To start, readers should use the Start Therapy button and complete the short matching questionnaire before scheduling according to therapist availability.

How Carmen’s approaches translate to online counselling

Carmen commonly uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Mindfulness alongside person-centred work. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, or ACT, helps people notice thoughts and feelings without getting stuck in them and to move toward what matters in their lives. Mindfulness practices focus on present moment awareness and can reduce reactivity to stress.

Her person-centred approach puts the client’s experience at the heart of sessions. That means she listens without judgement and works collaboratively to find what feels right. Together the client and counsellor decide which tools and exercises to try, based on the person’s needs and goals.

If you are considering online work, confirm the session formats available before booking. Carmen’s approaches adapt well to remote work because many exercises are conversational or practice-based, such as noticing patterns, practising simple mindfulness skills and setting values-based goals. Online options can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy day, allow shorter check-ins when needed and remove travel time so sessions are more convenient. Registered or accredited professionals like Carmen will work with each person to choose an approach and pace that suit their life and therapy aims.