Valerie Harmer, BACP

Valerie Harmer is a solution-focused therapist who supports people in making sense of the difficulties that are holding them back and in identifying practical steps to move forward. She adopts a collaborative approach, working with each person to spot patterns that maintain unhelpful behaviour and to develop changes that break those cycles. Valerie listens attentively and without judgement, asking targeted questions that help map out the different aspects of a problem and offering respectful feedback and guidance to clarify next steps.

She works with both individuals and couples across a range of relationship and emotional concerns, including anxiety, low self-esteem, anger, obsessive-compulsive tendencies, phobias, depression, bereavement and relationship difficulties. Her style is pragmatic and change-focused, and she provides both brief interventions and longer-term therapy depending on a person’s goals.

Valerie draws on a combination of solution-focused methods and evidence-informed techniques, including Behavioural Activation (BA), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) and Solution-Focused Hypnotherapy (SFH). Her training includes postgraduate study in Counselling and CBT Psychotherapy at the University of South Wales, a Diploma in Solution Focused Hypnotherapy from the Clifton Practice in Bristol and bereavement counselling training with CRUSE.

As a member of the BACP - the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy - Valerie follows that professional body’s code of conduct and clinical guidelines. She engages in regular supervision and ongoing professional development to maintain good clinical practice.