Mary Shiels

BACP

United Kingdom

Compassionate, practical counselling for change

Continue with Mary

At a glance

Credentials

BACP

Registration

BACP, United Kingdom / 401572

Experience

3 years

Languages

English

Location

United Kingdom

Details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp.

1. • Motivational approach
   • LGBTQ inclusive
   • Anxiety and grief

   About Mary

   Mary Shiels is a counsellor who uses Motivational Interviewing alongside other practical approaches. She works with people dealing with stress, anxiety, grief, depression and trauma. Mary aims to create a respectful, non-judgemental space where people can talk through painful experiences and make changes that matter to them.

   Mary trained to the standards indicated by her BACP credential and has three years of professional experience. She offers care for people from LGBTQ communities and those exploring diverse gender or sexual identities. Sessions are intended to help people understand their feelings, reduce panic and manage mood difficulties.

   Her work often blends Acceptance and Commitment Therapy with client-centred listening and cognitive techniques. She helps people spot unhelpful patterns, try small experiments and build everyday skills. Conversations can focus on practical steps as well as making sense of past hurts.

   Mary also works with issues around attachment and body image, caregiver stress, social anxiety and isolation. She supports people coping with divorce, guilt, shame and the loss that follows bereavement. The aim is to help people regain a sense of direction and calmer day-to-day functioning.

   People who book are asked to complete a short matching questionnaire before scheduling. That helps Mary tailor early sessions to each person’s goals and circumstances. Her style is warm and direct, with attention to what will work between sessions.

2. How therapeutic approaches translate to online counselling

   Motivational Interviewing helps people find their own reasons to change and to move forward. It uses curious questions and reflective listening to explore what matters and what might get in the way. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, or ACT, focuses on noticing thoughts and feelings and choosing actions that match personal values rather than getting stuck on hard emotions.
   
   Attachment-Based Therapy looks at patterns in close relationships and how those patterns affect feeling safe and connected. It helps people understand relationship habits and try different ways of relating that feel more helpful. Together these approaches can address anxiety, relationship difficulties, trauma reminders and low mood in a practical way.
   
   Finding the right approach is often collaborative. The therapist will work with each person to see which combination of methods fits their goals and preferences. Early sessions usually focus on identifying priorities and testing small steps so the approach can be adjusted over time.
   
   The biography does not specify which online session formats are offered, so please confirm the current options before booking. Online counselling can make sessions easier to fit into a busy week, reduce travel time and allow shorter check-ins when needed. It also means people in different places can arrange appointments without relocating.

4. Areas of expertise

   Primary focus

   Stress, AnxietyLGBTTrauma and abuseGriefDepression

   Additional focus areas

   Attachment issuesBody imageCaregiver issues and stressCommunication problemsControl issuesDivorce and separationForgivenessGuilt and shameIsolation / lonelinessLife purposeMood disordersPanic disorder and panic attacksPost-traumatic stressSelf-loveSocial anxiety and phobia

   Therapeutic approaches

   Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Attachment-Based TherapyClient-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)Existential TherapyMindfulness TherapyMotivational Interviewing

   Experience

   3+ years

   Listed in

   United Kingdom

   Languages

   English

5. Frequently asked questions

   What kinds of concerns does Mary support?

   She works with stress, anxiety, grief, depression and trauma, and also focuses on issues such as attachment, body image and caregiver stress.

   What is her therapeutic style like?

   Mary combines Motivational Interviewing with client-centred listening and practical therapy techniques to help people set goals and try small changes between sessions.

   How much experience does she have?

   Mary has three years of professional experience as a counsellor and trainer, with practice in areas such as anxiety, panic and trauma-related work.

   What credentials and location should I know about?

   She holds a BACP credential and practises in the United Kingdom.

   Can I work with Mary if I live outside the UK?

   International clients are accepted; sessions are offered in English.

   Which session formats are available?

   The original biography does not list specific session formats, so please confirm current session options before booking.

   How are costs handled?

   Costs vary with location and therapist availability, and sessions use a subscription that can be cancelled at any time.

   What do I do to begin working with Mary?

   Select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule according to the therapist's availability.

6. Online talk therapy is not emergency or medical care. Stopping or cutting down alcohol or other drugs can be unsafe without medical advice. In immediate danger? Crisis numbers

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