Mary Shiels, BACP

Mary Shiels is a counsellor who blends practical therapies to help people manage stress, anxiety and grief. She uses clear, down-to-earth language and focuses on steady, manageable steps. Mary works with people from the LGBT community and those dealing with trauma, depression or panic attacks.

Her approach draws on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy to help people notice thoughts and make choices that match their values. She also uses attachment-informed ways of looking at relationships and a client-centred style that keeps the person’s needs central. Sessions aim to be straightforward and paced to each person’s comfort.

Mary’s background includes three years practising as a counsellor and she holds BACP accreditation. She has experience supporting people affected by sexual trauma, bereavement and long-term mood difficulties. She also offers work around body image, shame and rebuilding trust after abuse.

People come to her for help with caregiver stress, communication problems, and the strain that comes with life changes such as separation. She includes skills for managing panic and social anxiety alongside longer-term emotional processing. The work can include short-term practical techniques and deeper, trauma-aware conversations.

Sessions are carried out in English and international clients may be accepted. To begin, clients complete a short matching questionnaire and schedule sessions according to the therapist’s availability.

How these approaches translate to online therapy

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people notice unhelpful thoughts and choose actions that matter to them. It is often used for anxiety, low mood and to clarify life direction. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) focuses on practical steps to change thinking and behaviour patterns, which can reduce panic, social anxiety and mood problems. Attachment-Based Therapy looks at relationship patterns and how early connections shape current emotional needs; it can help with trust, communication and feeling understood.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will discuss goals and preferences and together decide which combination of methods fits best. That collaborative process can be revisited as needs change.

Session formats are not specified in the biography, so please confirm current options before booking. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions around caring duties, work breaks or travel, and it can allow a shorter check-in when time is limited. Registered or accredited professionals can offer practical worksheets, breathing and grounding exercises, and step-by-step plans that you can use between sessions to support everyday life.