Counsellor profile
Barbara Engels, BACP
Counsellor - relationship and family support
See online counselling options- Attachment-based work
- Psychodynamic approach
- Speaks English and German
About Barbara
Counsellor Barbara Engels is a BACP member with 18 years' experience. She works with people in the United Kingdom on relationship and family concerns, self-esteem, anxiety, depression and life changes. Sessions are offered in English and German and international clients are accepted.
Barbara draws on attachment-based and psychodynamic approaches in her work. She uses these to look at how early relationships and repeated patterns affect current feelings and behaviour. This can help with intimacy problems, communication breakdowns and attachment issues.
She has a long history of working in relationship services and with an autism-specialist charity. That background informs her work with parents and people affected by autism and Asperger syndrome, especially around parenting, couple communication and family conflict.
In a session Barbara talks through what feels difficult now and what you want to change. She pays attention to patterns that keep repeating and to emotions that are hard to name. Practical points about coping, motivation and work stress are also part of the conversation.
Barbara offers support for grief, trauma and abuse, midlife questions and career or workplace problems. People who want help with ADHD-related issues, life purpose or managing loneliness can also bring those concerns. To begin, follow the site instructions to complete the short matching questionnaire and schedule a first session.
How attachment and psychodynamic approaches work online
Attachment-based work looks at how early bonds shape current relationships and feelings. It helps when intimacy, trust or closeness are difficult, and when people notice repeating patterns in their partnerships or family life.Psychodynamic work focuses on thoughts and feelings that run beneath daily reactions. It can help uncover themes such as guilt, shame or unresolved grief that affect mood and behaviour over time.
Finding the right approach is part of the process. The counsellor will discuss your concerns, goals and preferences and decide together which elements to use. That conversation is collaborative and can be reviewed as needs change.
The practical benefits of remote counselling include fitting sessions around work and family life and removing travel time. If you plan to use online sessions, please confirm which formats are offered before booking, since specific session types are not listed in the biography. Online work can make it easier to keep regular appointments and to bring examples from everyday life into the conversation.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
18+ years
Listed in
United Kingdom
Languages
English, German
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of problems does she help with?
Barbara helps people with relationship and family concerns, self-esteem, depression, anxiety, grief, trauma and life changes. She also works with parenting issues, career and workplace problems and ADHD-related concerns.
How would she describe her therapeutic style?
She uses attachment-based and psychodynamic approaches. That means she looks at how early relationships and repeated patterns affect current feelings and behaviour.
How much professional experience does she have?
She has 18 years of professional experience, including work with a relationship counselling service and an autism-specialist charity.
Which professional body is she registered with and where is she based?
She is a member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and practises in the United Kingdom.
Can sessions be held in languages other than English?
Sessions are offered in English and German.
What session formats are offered?
The original biography does not list specific session formats. Please confirm current session options before booking.
How much do sessions cost?
Cost varies with location. Sessions use a subscription that can be cancelled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Select the See online counselling options button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Details come from information the counsellor supplied to BetterHelp. A membership or registration can be checked on the professional body's own register.
Online counselling is not emergency care. In an emergency call 999, or see the help numbers.