Mary Shiels

• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
• Trauma informed support

About Mary

Mary Shiels works with stress, anxiety, grief, trauma and issues related to sexual and gender identity using practical therapeutic approaches. She is a member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and has three years' experience as a counsellor.

She offers sessions that focus on problem areas such as panic attacks, mood difficulties and post-traumatic stress. Mary uses a mix of methods including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) and Client-Centred approaches to help people manage symptoms and make behavioural changes.

Mary also works with concerns around attachment, body image, caregiver stress, communication problems and feelings of isolation. She supports people dealing with relationship endings, control issues, guilt, shame and the search for life purpose. Work can include practical strategies for managing anxious thoughts and behavioural experiments to test new ways of responding.

Her practice includes specific support for people from LGBT communities and for those affected by sexual violence or who work in sex industries, offering a non-judgemental therapeutic relationship. She uses trauma-focused methods and grief counselling where needed, and offers techniques aimed at emotional regulation and building resilience.

Mary draws on brief solution-focused tools as well as longer-term therapy techniques, adapting sessions to the issues presented. She also runs training and public talks, and brings that experience into clinical work to clarify goals and plan next steps.

How her approaches translate to online counselling

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on clarifying values and taking action in line with those values while learning to live with difficult thoughts. It can help with persistent anxiety, low mood and problems with motivation.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) works by identifying unhelpful thoughts and testing them with practical exercises and behavioural experiments. It is commonly used for panic, social anxiety and mood difficulties.

Finding the right approach is part of the work together. Mary will discuss the options and agree a plan based on the person's goals, preferences and the problems they bring. This is a collaborative process and changes can be made if a different method would suit better.

The biography does not specify session formats, so confirm the available options before booking. Practically, online sessions can make it easier to fit counselling around work, caregiving and travel commitments, and can allow for shorter check-ins when needed. Registered or accredited professionals often offer flexible appointment times to suit daily life, and the counsellor will explain how to schedule and manage sessions when you begin.

Topics Mary lists

• Stress and anxiety
• LGBT
• Trauma and abuse
• Grief
• Depression
• Attachment issues
• Body image
• Caregiver issues and stress
• Communication problems
• Control issues
• Divorce and separation
• Forgiveness
• Guilt and shame
• Isolation and loneliness
• Life purpose
• Mood disorders
• Panic disorder and panic attacks
• Post-traumatic stress
• Self-love
• Social anxiety and phobia

Ways of working

• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
• Attachment-Based Therapy
• Client-Centred Therapy
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
• Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)
• Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)
• Existential Therapy
• Mindfulness Therapy
• Motivational Interviewing

Questions about Mary

Does she work with anxiety and panic attacks?

Yes. She lists anxiety, panic disorder and panic attacks among her main concerns and uses techniques to help manage symptoms.

What kind of counselling does she offer?

She uses approaches including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Attachment-Based and Client-Centred methods.

How much experience does she have?

She has three years' experience working as a counsellor, and also runs training and public talks.

Is she registered with a professional body in the UK?

Yes. She is a member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP).

Which languages are sessions offered in?

Sessions are offered in English.

Can she work with people outside the UK?

Yes. She accepts international clients according to the information provided.

What session formats does she use?

The biography does not list specific session formats; please confirm current session options before booking.

How much do sessions cost and how does billing work?

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