Ilaria Calussi, BACP
Supportive counsellor for relationships and family life
Details
| Name | Ilaria Calussi |
|---|---|
| Credentials | BACP |
| Based in | United Kingdom |
| Registered with | BACP |
| Session format | Online |
| Languages | English, Italian |
| Years in practice | 25 |
About Ilaria
Ilaria Calussi is a counsellor with 25 years of experience who aims to help people facing relationship strain, family conflict, parenting stress, trauma and ADHD-related challenges. They write plainly and listen closely to understand what matters most to each person. Sessions are practical and rooted in everyday life rather than jargon.
Ilaria draws on a variety of ways of working to match what a person needs. Narrative therapy helps people reframe the stories they tell about themselves.
Background and approach
Attachment-based ideas look at how early bonds shape current relationships. Client-centred work puts the person’s goals at the centre of sessions while cognitive behavioural tools offer hands-on strategies for difficult thoughts and feelings. Their background includes roles in the NHS and well-known UK charities, plus work managing school-based services and supervising social care teams.
They also teach psychology and counselling at the Open University and run a independent practice. This mix of NHS, charity and academic experience informs a pragmatic approach to everyday problems. Ilaria’s practice is informed by lived experience too - solo parenting, neurodivergence and queer relationships shape how they relate to people.
They aim to be straightforward and warm, creating a calm space to talk things through. Therapy focuses on building coping skills, repairing relationships, and finding clearer ways to move forward. People can expect collaborative sessions that balance understanding with practical steps.
Ilaria speaks English and Italian and is based in the United Kingdom. Their professional registration is with BACP, which is shown as BACP in their credentials.
What this therapist works with
Their listing names Relationship issues, Family conflicts, Trauma and abuse among the things Ilaria works with, alongside the areas below.
- Relationship issues
- Family conflicts
- Trauma and abuse
- Parenting issues
- ADHD
- Abandonment
- Adoption and foster care
- Attachment issues
- Autism and Asperger Syndrome
- Avoidant personality
- Blended family issues
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Chronic pain, illness, and disability
- Codependency
- Communication problems
- Control issues
- Dissociation
- Divorce and separation
- Domestic violence
- Emptiness
- Family of origin issues
- Family problems
- Fatherhood issues
- Forgiveness
- Guilt and shame
- Immigration issues
- Isolation / loneliness
- Jealousy
- Life purpose
- Midlife crisis
- Mood disorders
- Multicultural concerns
- Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD
- Panic disorder and panic attacks
- Polyamory / non-monogamous relationships
- Postpartum depression
- Post-traumatic stress
- Pregnancy and childbirth
- Prejudice and discrimination
- Self-harm
- Self-love
- Sexual assault and abuse
- Sexuality
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Somatization
- Women's issues
- Workplace issues
- Young adult issues
Approaches listed
- Narrative Therapy: Named in their listing among their approaches.
- Attachment-Based Therapy: Listed by Ilaria among the ways they work.
- Client-Centered Therapy: Listed by Ilaria among the ways they work.
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Listed by Ilaria among the ways they work.
- Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT): Listed by Ilaria among the ways they work.
- Gottman Method: Listed by Ilaria among the ways they work.
- Solution-Focused Therapy: Listed by Ilaria among the ways they work.
- Somatic Therapy: Listed by Ilaria among the ways they work.
- Trauma-Focused Therapy: Listed by Ilaria among the ways they work.
- Systemic Therapy: Listed by Ilaria among the ways they work.
- Training stated: This directory copies the approaches a therapist names and does not check training records. Ask Ilaria directly how much of the work is narrative and what a session usually looks like.
Narrative Therapy in this listing
Narrative Therapy appears in this therapist's own list of approaches. That tells you it is part of how they work. It does not tell you how much of a session it shapes, and this directory does not check or rate training.
If a narrative approach is what you are looking for, it is worth asking Ilaria directly how they use it and what a session usually looks like.
Online session options
How narrative and attachment work online
Online therapy with Ilaria often uses Narrative Therapy to help people separate themselves from unhelpful stories and rewrite those narratives. Narrative work focuses on the meanings people give to events and relationships, and it can help with issues like family roles, abandonment feelings, and a sense of emptiness.Attachment-Based Therapy is also a key influence and looks at how early bonds continue to shape current relationships. This approach helps people notice patterns of closeness and distance and develop different ways of relating when conflict or trauma has affected connection.
Finding the right approach is part of the sessions. Ilaria treats the choice of methods as collaborative and adjusts the mix based on a person’s needs, goals and preferences. They listen to what matters most and check in about what is helpful as therapy progresses.
Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat and text-based messaging, which offer practical flexibility. Video allows face-to-face conversation for deeper relational work, phone sessions suit shorter check-ins or lower bandwidth, live chat supports brief exchanges during a busy day, and messaging helps people process thoughts between meetings. These options make it easier to fit therapy around work, family life and other commitments while still using the same therapeutic approaches.
Common questions about this listing
What kinds of problems does this counsellor help with?
Ilaria works with relationship and family issues, parenting strain, trauma and abuse, and ADHD-related concerns. Additional focuses include attachment, adoption and foster care, chronic illness, and communication problems.
How would you describe the therapeutic style?
The approach blends narrative, attachment-based and client-centred work with practical cognitive behavioural tools. Sessions aim to combine understanding life stories with clear, usable strategies.
What experience does the counsellor have?
They have 25 years' experience across NHS services and major UK charities. Their background includes managing school services, supervising social care teams, and lecturing in psychology and counselling.
What professional credentials and location are listed?
The counsellor is listed with BACP and is based in the United Kingdom.
Can I work with them if I live outside the UK or prefer another language?
Sessions are offered in English and Italian, and international clients are accepted.
What session formats are available online?
Sessions can take place by video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to suit different needs and schedules.
How much do sessions cost?
Cost varies by location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be cancelled at any time.
How do I begin working with this counsellor?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions based on therapist availability.
Contacting this therapist
Sessions with Ilaria are arranged through our partner platform. It asks a few questions about what you are looking for, then shows you the therapists available to you, including Ilaria where they have space. Ask about fees, and whether they hold a licence or registration where you live.
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