- ACT methods
- CBT strategies
- Attachment work
About Mary
Mary Shiels is a counsellor (BACP) with three years of experience based in the United Kingdom. She works with people facing stress, anxiety, LGBT concerns, trauma and abuse, grief and depression. Mary also lists social anxiety and phobia among her focus areas and offers support for a broad range of emotional difficulties.
She uses several practical therapeutic approaches in her work. Mary draws on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) to help people notice unhelpful patterns and try out new responses. She also uses Attachment-Based Therapy to look at how early relationships affect current feelings and connections.
In sessions she focuses on clear, manageable steps rather than abstract theory. She offers strategies for panic, mood problems and overwhelming anxiety, and supports people processing trauma, loss or relationship challenges. Conversations can include exploring body-mind connections and emotional regulation skills.
Mary describes experience working with issues linked to sexual identity and gender diversity, and she provides services for people who identify as LGBTQIA+. Her background includes training and public speaking on related topics, and she names work with consent education and support for people affected by sexual violence.
Her practice pays attention to practical coping tools such as mindfulness, emotional skills and solution-focused techniques. People can expect a direct, task-oriented style that combines emotional understanding with exercises to test changes between sessions.
Therapeutic approaches and working online
Mary often works with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). ACT focuses on noticing difficult thoughts and choosing actions that align with values, which can help with ongoing anxiety and avoidance. CBT addresses unhelpful thinking and behaviour patterns with practical exercises to reduce panic and social worry.She also uses Attachment-Based Therapy to look at how early relationship experiences shape current reactions. This approach can be useful when anxiety or isolation links to attachment patterns and closeness with others.
Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will discuss goals, preferences and what feels most helpful, and then try methods together to see what fits. That collaborative process helps shape which techniques are used in later sessions.
The original biography does not list specific session formats, so please confirm the current online options before booking. Online sessions can make it easier to fit appointments into a busy day, reduce travel time and allow shorter check-ins when needed. They also let people choose video, audio or message styles where offered, depending on what works best for concentration and comfort.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
3+ years
Listed in
United Kingdom
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does she help with?
She works with stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, grief, depression and LGBT related issues. Social anxiety and phobia are listed among her focus areas.
What is her therapeutic style?
She uses direct, practical approaches including ACT, CBT, DBT and client-centred methods to teach skills and try different responses in daily life.
How much experience does she have?
Mary has three years of professional experience as a counsellor.
What are her credentials and where is she based?
She holds BACP and is based in the United Kingdom.
Can I work with her if I live outside the UK?
She accepts international clients and sessions can be arranged across borders in English.
Which session formats are offered?
The original biography does not list specific session formats. Please confirm current session options before booking.
How much do sessions cost?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be cancelled at any time.
How do I begin with a first session?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and then schedule a first session.