Ilkay Alici, BACP

Ilkay Alici is a counsellor and psychotherapist who supports people facing relationship strain, grief, stress and anxiety, trauma and abuse, and challenges around parenting and self‑esteem. She also helps with addictions, eating and sleeping issues, anger, career questions, and life changes that can feel overwhelming. Ilkay holds an MSc in Psychology and is a member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP).

Ilkay aims to create a calm, non‑judgemental space where people can speak openly about what matters to them. Sessions focus on understanding patterns in everyday thoughts and behaviour, and on practical steps that can be tried between meetings. She works in English and Turkish and accepts clients in the United Kingdom and internationally.

Her approach draws on client‑centred principles, cognitive behavioural ideas, and mindfulness practices. That means listening closely to each person, helping them notice unhelpful thinking, and teaching simple ways to be more present and steady in difficult moments. Ilkay tailors these methods to the issue at hand, whether that is coping with grief, managing mood changes, or addressing relationship and intimacy‑related concerns.

With 14 years of experience, Ilkay offers a steady, down‑to‑earth way of working. She supports people dealing with ADHD, bipolar and depression, compassion fatigue, attachment and abandonment issues, and a range of personality and communication difficulties. The emphasis is on making therapy useful in day‑to‑day life.

To begin, prospective clients complete a short matching questionnaire and then schedule according to the therapist's availability. Ilkay uses a subscription model for sessions that can be cancelled at any time.

How Ilkay uses therapy approaches online

Client‑centred work places your experience at the heart of each session. The therapist listens without judgement and follows what matters most to you, helping you make sense of feelings and decide what to try next. This approach suits concerns such as relationship strain, grief and self‑esteem issues.

Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) focuses on the link between thoughts, feelings and actions. In practical terms this means spotting patterns of thinking that make problems worse and testing small changes to break those patterns. CBT is often used for anxiety, low mood and stress management.

Mindfulness therapy teaches simple attention exercises and ways to be present with difficult emotions. These practices can reduce reactivity and help people cope with stress, sleep problems and compulsive behaviours.

Choosing the best mix of approaches is a collaborative process. The therapist will discuss your goals and preferences and recommend an approach or combination to try. You can review progress together and adjust what you do in sessions as needs change.

Confirm the session formats available before booking, as the biography does not list specific delivery methods. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life - for example by removing travel time, enabling shorter check‑ins during a lunch break, or removing the need to be on camera. Registered or accredited professionals often adapt materials and exercises so they work well in an online setting.