Boutaina Rahal, BACP

Boutaina Rahal is a UK BACP psychotherapist who helps people facing stress, anxiety, trauma, relationship and intimacy worries. She speaks English and Arabic and draws on two decades of clinical work in the UK and abroad. Her background and lived experience shape a down-to-earth, respectful approach that aims to make starting therapy easier for worried clients.

She uses practical conversation and listening to help people find clearer ways to manage distress. Sessions focus on identifying patterns that keep problems going, and testing small changes that can reduce anxiety, lift mood, or improve communication. She also works with grief, parenting strain, career pressures, compassion fatigue and identity concerns including LGBT issues.

Her style blends person-centred listening with cognitive behavioural ideas and emotionally-focused work. Existential and Jungian perspectives are also part of her thinking, especially when people want to explore meaning or deeper life themes. This mix lets her tailor sessions to what each person needs most.

Boutaina has specific experience supporting survivors of trauma, people recovering from abuse, and those coping with long-term stress or PTSD symptoms. She also helps with self-esteem, motivation, and relationship difficulties that affect daily life.

Practical matters are kept simple: she asks people to complete a short matching questionnaire to start, then schedule sessions according to her availability. Fees vary with location and are billed through a cancellable subscription model. If you want to explore jealousy or related relationship concerns, she can talk them through and work with you to find steps forward.

How Boutaina uses therapy approaches online

Client-Centred Therapy puts the person at the heart of the work. It means the therapist listens closely and follows what matters most to the client, helping them find their own solutions and pace of change. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, or CBT, looks at unhelpful thoughts and behaviours and teaches practical steps to reduce anxiety, manage mood, and tackle patterns that cause distress. Emotionally-Focused Therapy focuses on feelings and attachment, helping people understand emotional responses and improve how they connect with others.

Boutaina treats choosing an approach as a shared process. She will talk with each person about their goals and preferences, and together they decide which ideas and techniques to try. That collaborative way helps make sure the work feels relevant and manageable for the client.

If you are considering online sessions, check the available session options before booking so you know what formats are offered. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy around work, childcare or travel, and can reduce time spent on commuting. It also allows shorter check-ins when needed, or longer sessions for deeper work, depending on what the client and therapist agree will help most.