Julie Gates , BACP

Julie Gates is a UK-based counsellor with five years of professional experience who supports adults, young people aged 9 to 18, parents and carers as they navigate difficult life moments. She works with individuals facing stress and anxiety, depression, relationship and family conflicts, low self-esteem, motivation struggles and confidence issues, helping them identify the patterns that get in the way of better wellbeing.

Her practice is informed by client-centred and psychodynamic training, and she places strong emphasis on building a nurturing therapeutic relationship. Julie describes her style as gentle and supportive, creating an open environment where thoughts and feelings can be explored without judgment. She often incorporates mindfulness and creative strategies to help clients access new perspectives and practical coping skills.

Julie holds a Level 4 Diploma in Psychodynamic and Person Centred Counselling, an advanced vocational qualification in those therapeutic approaches, and a Level 5 Certificate in Counselling Children and Young People, which reflects further specialist training to work with younger clients. She also holds BACP membership - the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy - indicating adherence to recognised professional standards.

Julie aims to empower people to take the courageous first steps toward positive change, working collaboratively to uncover what might be holding them back and to build clearer, more effective ways of moving forward.

Therapeutic approaches and online support

Julie draws on client-centred therapy to create a warm, non-directive space where the client’s own pace and priorities guide the work - this approach is useful for building self-awareness, confidence and emotional resilience. She also uses psychodynamic ideas to help clients explore underlying patterns and early influences that shape current feelings and relationships, which can be helpful for issues such as attachment, repeated relationship difficulties and enduring emotional patterns. Solution-focused elements are sometimes included to set clear goals and identify practical steps that support short-term change and motivation.

Choosing the right therapeutic approach is part of the collaborative process. Julie works with each person to determine the best fit based on their needs, goals and preferences, adjusting methods as the therapy progresses to ensure the approach feels helpful and relevant.

Online sessions by video call, phone, live chat or text-based messaging offer flexibility for different schedules and comfort levels. These options make it easier to maintain continuity of care, access support from home or work, and choose the communication style that suits the individual best, while still working with licensed professionals and trained therapists to address challenges and build practical skills.