Lesley Papper

Lesley Papper is a psychotherapeutic counsellor and a registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). She works with people facing a wide range of concerns including grief, anxiety, depression, addiction, stress and issues around intimacy and relationships. Lesley offers a warm, accepting approach and encourages self-care as a foundation for change.

Lesley describes therapy as a collaborative process. She listens to immediate worries first and then helps clients set longer-term goals. Sessions can explore current patterns and also trace where difficult feelings or behaviours began, so people can better understand their emotional responses.

Her practice blends several approaches to suit the person in front of her rather than applying one fixed model. She uses elements from cognitive behavioural work for practical change and draws on client-centred listening to build trust. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy ideas help people live with difficult thoughts while focusing on values-based action.

Lesley has nine years of counselling experience and has worked in different settings, including private practice. She has supported people coping with chronic illness, hidden disabilities, neurodiversity, and survivors of sexual violence. She also helps those dealing with caregiver stress and cancer-related concerns.

She offers both short-term and longer-term therapy at a pace that suits each person. Lesley aims to help people build resilience, put structure in place, and move towards a more manageable life. To begin, people are invited to complete the site questionnaire and arrange a first session.

How Lesley’s approaches translate to online therapy

Lesley combines Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Client-Centred Therapy in ways that suit each person. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people notice difficult thoughts and feelings without getting stuck in them, and then take small steps that match their values. Client-Centred Therapy focuses on listening, empathy and building a trusting relationship so clients can explore feelings safely.

Choosing the right approach is part of the work. Lesley will talk with each person about their needs, goals and preferences and together decide which methods to use. That collaborative choice is reviewed as therapy progresses to keep it relevant and useful.

The original profile does not state specific online session formats, so please confirm available options before booking. Many people find online conversations make it easier to fit therapy into busy lives, to keep sessions shorter when needed, or to avoid travel time. Online work can support practical skill-building from home and help maintain continuity of care when in-person meetings are difficult.