Irene Hughes, AASW

Irene Hughes is an AASW social worker with 15 years of clinical experience who supports people facing stress, anxiety, relationship strain, trauma and parenting pressures. She offers a calm, listening presence and aims to help people reconnect with meaning and direction in midlife and beyond.

Irene brings together Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and client-centred therapy in sessions. Conversations focus on what matters most to the client and on small, practical steps that fit everyday life. She works with faith as requested, integrating Scripture, prayer and Christian principles when a client wants that element included.

Sessions move at each person’s pace. Irene encourages honesty about doubts, guilt or questions of purpose. She helps people notice unhelpful thought patterns, clarify their values, and take actions that reflect what they truly want from life.

Her style is gentle and collaborative. People can expect a space where feelings are named, options are looked at plainly, and choices are practised rather than judged. Irene emphasises strengths and dignity while attending to the practical impact of issues such as parenting stress, attachment concerns, body image and isolation.

Over a career spanning fifteen years Irene has supported people through grief, infertility strain, caregiver stress and the fallout of betrayal. She aims to combine psychological tools with spiritual resources when that suits the person, helping them move toward renewed purpose and steadier day-to-day living.

How ACT and Client-Centred Work Online

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people name what matters to them and take small committed steps towards those values. It is useful for stress, anxiety, shame and feelings of emptiness because it focuses on action rather than getting stuck in thoughts. Client-centred therapy emphasises a warm, listening relationship where the person sets the pace and direction of the work, supporting insight and self-acceptance.

Choosing the best approach is part of the process. Irene will work together with each person to decide which ideas and exercises fit their needs, goals and preferences. That collaborative decision-making helps tailor sessions to everyday realities and personal beliefs, including the option to integrate Christian spiritual elements when the client wishes.

Practical benefits of online therapy include fitting sessions into a busy routine and reducing travel time so it is easier to keep regular meetings. Some people prefer shorter check-ins or phone conversations when they have limited energy, while others choose longer video sessions for deeper reflection; the exact session options should be confirmed before booking. Overall the focus is on making therapeutic work manageable and relevant to daily life.