Sunah Akhtar

Sunah Akhtar is a counsellor who helps people manage intense feelings like anger, stress and anxiety. She works with individuals to clarify what matters to them and to build practical ways of coping. Sunah speaks English, Hindi, Punjabi and Urdu and practises from the United Kingdom.

Sunah trained and now holds BACP accreditation, and she has nine years of experience in the field. Early in her career she spent four years on placement with community services where she offered emotional support and listening to people in distress. That practical experience shaped her calm, steady style.

Her day-to-day approach draws on cognitive behavioural techniques and mindful awareness to help interrupt unhelpful thoughts and reactions. She also uses client-centred methods to make sessions conversational and focused on each person's priorities. Attachment-focused ideas are used when relationship patterns and early bonds affect current emotions.

Sunah aims to make therapy straightforward and useful. Sessions focus on small, manageable steps people can try between meetings. She pays attention to practical problems such as sleep, eating, work strain and parenting pressures as well as emotional issues like shame, low self-esteem and grief.

People who come to her can expect a non-judgemental space to talk, reflect and plan changes. She blends evidence-based techniques with compassionate listening so clients can notice progress and learn new ways to regulate strong feelings. The emphasis is on building resilience and everyday strategies that fit real life.

How therapy approaches translate to online work

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, or ACT, helps people focus on what matters to them and take small actions in line with those values while learning to sit with difficult feelings. It suits issues where avoidance or painful thoughts get in the way of everyday goals. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, or CBT, looks at the link between thoughts, feelings and actions and offers practical exercises to change reactions, useful for anxiety, anger and low mood. Attachment-Based ideas pay attention to relationship patterns that affect how people respond emotionally, which can help when past bonds shape present stress.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process. The counsellor will work with the client to identify which methods feel most helpful, and can adapt techniques as work progresses. This is collaborative and based on the client’s goals and preferences.

Practical benefits of online work include easier scheduling around work or family commitments and the ability to keep sessions without travel. Some people prefer shorter check-ins by audio when they have limited bandwidth, while others choose video for a fuller face-to-face feel. Confirm the available session options before booking so arrangements fit daily life and routines.