Petra Vidal, BACP

Petra Vidal is a counsellor based in the United Kingdom who helps people facing stress, anxiety, low self-esteem and depression. She works with clients who are wrestling with life changes, career uncertainty, relationships and issues commonly seen in midlife. Petra emphasises a straightforward, non-judgemental space where people can say what they feel and think without pressure.

Petra has three years of professional experience and holds BACP registration, which is recorded here as BACP. She blends practical approaches to help people name unhelpful patterns and try small changes that make life feel more manageable.

In sessions she draws on client-centred ideas to listen deeply and follow each person’s pace. She also uses elements of cognitive behavioural therapy to spot thoughts that add to anxiety or low mood, and mindfulness techniques to build calmer responses in everyday moments.

Petra aims to work collaboratively, so sessions focus on what matters to the person in front of her. This can include dealing with past family issues, grief, trauma, or specific struggles such as hoarding, feelings of emptiness, or difficulties around attachment and abandonment.

She invites people to take a first step by describing their situation and goals. From there she helps set simple, realistic steps so clients can try things between sessions and notice what changes.

Therapies suited to online reflection and change

Petra uses client-centred work to create a space where the person is heard and seen. This approach focuses on the client’s experience and helps people clarify what matters to them and what they want to change.

She also draws on cognitive behavioural therapy, which looks at the links between thoughts, feelings and actions. CBT can help when anxiety, low mood or unhelpful thinking patterns get in the way of daily life.

Finding the right approach is part of the process. Petra will work together with each person to choose methods that match their goals, preferences and day-to-day needs, and will adjust the plan as things progress.

If you are considering online work, check the current session options before booking so you know what is available. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy around work or family life, reduce travel time and allow shorter check-ins when needed. They can also suit quieter environments or conversations where not being on camera helps concentration. Registered or accredited professionals, including therapists, now often offer different ways to meet so it is worth confirming the format that best fits your routine and comfort.