Lesley Papper, BACP

Lesley Papper is a counsellor who helps people facing midlife challenges and other life changes. She supports people dealing with stress, anxiety, depression, grief, addictions, relationship and intimacy concerns, eating issues, sleep problems, and career questions. Lesley also works with those managing ADHD, compassion fatigue, parenting strain, and the emotional impact of illness and caregiving.

Lesley offers a warm, accepting approach. She believes people already have resources to change and focuses on practical steps that feel manageable. Conversations are collaborative and paced to suit the person. She encourages self-acceptance and small daily changes that add up over time.

In sessions Lesley may look at what keeps a problem going now and where certain patterns began. This can help make sense of feelings and reactions in the present. She balances short-term goals with longer-term reflection so progress can be both immediate and lasting.

Her counselling draws on a mix of methods, including cognitive ideas about thoughts and behaviours, acceptance-based work, client-centred listening, psychodynamic reflection, and solution-focused strategies. These are used to match the needs and preferences of each person.

Lesley is a registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, BACP. She has nine years of experience working across different settings and with a wide range of concerns. People who choose her can expect steady practical support and time to explore their story.

To begin, she asks people to think about what they want to change and what feels most urgent. This helps shape the first steps and the pace of therapy.

How Lesley’s approaches translate to online work

Lesley blends acceptance-based work, client-centred listening, and cognitive behavioural ideas into her practice. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy helps people notice difficult thoughts and feelings and put energy into meaningful action rather than struggling with every sensation. Client-Centred Therapy focuses on empathic listening and creating a respectful, non-judgemental space where people can talk through what matters to them. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy looks at how thoughts and behaviours interact and offers clear exercises to shift unhelpful patterns.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. Lesley treats this as a collaboration and will help identify which ways of working feel most useful. Together the person and Lesley review goals, try methods, and adjust plans so therapy fits the individual’s needs and preferences.

Session formats are not specified here, so confirm the available options before booking. Online sessions can make it easier to fit counselling around work, caregiving, or travel. They also allow for shorter check-ins when time is tight, or for paced longer sessions when deeper reflection is needed. Many people find it simpler to sustain regular contact this way, and Lesley will help shape a rhythm that works with everyday life.