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Mary Shiels, BACP

Mary Shiels is a counsellor who combines practical talking therapies with a warm, non-judgemental approach.

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About Mary

Mary Shiels is a counsellor who combines practical talking therapies with a warm, non-judgemental approach. She uses straightforward methods to help people manage stress, anxiety, grief, depression and trauma. Mary works with clients who identify as LGBT and those coping with relationship or identity questions.

Mary draws on several complementary approaches to suit different needs. She uses acceptance and commitment ideas to help people notice their thoughts and choose actions that match their values.

Background and approach

Cognitive behavioural techniques help with panic, low mood and social anxiety by breaking problems into smaller steps. Attachment-based ideas inform how she looks at connection and patterns from early relationships. Dialectical skills support people who need tools to manage intense emotions and reduce unhelpful reactions.

Sessions follow a client-centred stance so people set the pace and themes of their work. Mary has three years of practice and is a member of BACP, the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy. She offers video, phone, chat and text sessions, and accepts international clients who prefer online formats.

Fees operate through a cancellable subscription that varies with location and therapist availability. To begin, a person completes a short matching questionnaire and schedules a session. Mary aims to build practical skills, clearer thinking and increased emotional balance over time.

Details from the counsellor's public professional profile · registration number listed

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Registration

BodyRegistration numberExpires
BACP 401572 November 2026

Registration details are as listed on the counsellor's public profile. You can check any number with the registering body.

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Sessions and payment

Sessions are held online through our partner platform, by video, phone or messaging depending on the counsellor.

Cost Costs are shown on the partner platform before you commit. If cost is a concern, ask about reduced-fee options.

Focus areas and approaches

Everything Mary lists on their public professional profile, in their own terms.

Ways of working Mary names

Naming an approach is not evidence of training in it. This directory copies what each counsellor lists and does not check training records.

Therapeutic approaches suited to online working

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people notice painful thoughts and feelings without getting stuck in them, then take steps that match their values; it can be useful for anxiety, low mood and life-direction questions. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) breaks problems into manageable parts and uses practical exercises and homework to reduce panic attacks, tackle phobias and shift unhelpful thinking. Attachment-Based Therapy looks at patterns of relating and helps people understand how early bonds affect current relationships and emotional reactions.

Finding the right approach is part of the process. The therapist will work collaboratively to identify which methods fit a person's goals, needs and preferences, and may combine techniques from different approaches to suit the individual. This is decided together over the first few sessions.

Online therapy offers flexibility and practical benefits. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation when meeting in person is difficult, phone sessions suit people who prefer no camera, and live chat or text messaging can be used for shorter check-ins or when typing feels easier. Those options make it simpler to fit therapy around work, caring duties or travel, and still focus on skill-building, emotional regulation and clearer thinking while working remotely.

Frequently asked

What concerns does Mary commonly help with?

She supports people with stress, anxiety, grief, depression and trauma, and works with a range of related issues such as body image, isolation and panic attacks.

What is Mary’s therapeutic style?

Her work mixes acceptance and commitment ideas, cognitive behavioural tools, attachment-informed thinking and dialectical skills, all delivered in a client-centred way.

What experience does she bring?

Mary has three years of clinical practice and experience working with people facing trauma, anxiety and identity concerns.

How is Mary professionally recognised?

She is associated with BACP, the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy as supplied in her profile.

Which languages and international options are offered?

Sessions are offered in English and Mary accepts international clients who prefer online sessions.

What session formats are available?

Therapy is offered by video calls, phone sessions, live chat and text-based messaging to suit different needs and schedules.

How are fees and payment handled?

Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be cancelled at any time.

How do I begin working with Mary?

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