Lesley Papper

Lesley Papper is a psychotherapeutic counsellor who supports people facing anger, stress, anxiety, grief and depression. She is a member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). Lesley offers a warm, accepting space where people can talk about what is making life harder and begin to find different ways of coping.

She works collaboratively, addressing immediate worries while also looking at longer-term goals. Sessions may look at patterns of thought and behaviour that keep problems going. Lesley helps people notice where difficulties began and how they show up now, so practical changes can be put in place.

Lesley describes herself as integrative in style and draws on several approaches to match the person in front of her. She encourages self-acceptance and self-care as starting points for change. The focus is on building resilience and structure that fit each person’s life.

Her experience includes supporting people with addictions, eating concerns, trauma and survivors of sexual violence, as well as those living with chronic illness or hidden disabilities. She also has experience with neurodiverse clients who face long-term challenges in a neurotypical world.

Sessions can be short-term or longer-term and proceed at the client’s pace. Lesley aims to help people take practical steps towards a more manageable life and greater wellbeing.

Therapeutic approaches and how they work online

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people notice unhelpful thoughts and make room for valued actions. It can be useful for anxiety, anger and low mood by focusing on values and small, purposeful steps. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) looks at links between thoughts, feelings and behaviours and offers practical techniques to change patterns that maintain problems such as worry or poor sleep. Client-Centred Therapy places emphasis on an empathic relationship, where the counsellor listens and reflects to help people make sense of their experience and build self-acceptance.

Choosing the right approach is a process. The therapist will talk with each person about their goals and preferences and may combine elements from different methods. This is done together so the pace and focus match what matters to the client.

If you are considering online therapy, check which session formats the therapist currently offers before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life, remove travel time, and allow shorter or more frequent check-ins when useful. It also means people can join from different locations, which can help if schedules or mobility are a concern. Registered or accredited professionals and therapists often find ways to adapt exercises and tools so they work well remotely, while keeping the practical aims of therapy in view.