Mary Shiels

Mary Shiels is a counsellor who brings compassionate, straightforward support to people dealing with stress, anxiety, grief and low mood. She uses practical therapy methods to help people notice what matters and make small changes that fit their life. Mary holds BACP registration and works from the United Kingdom. She offers care for people who identify as LGBT and for those coping with trauma or loss.

Mary draws on approaches such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, cognitive behavioural ideas, and attachment-focused work. Sessions often focus on understanding patterns that keep problems going and building simple tools to reduce panic, manage worry, and improve relationships. She also uses techniques from dialectical behaviour therapy to help regulate strong emotions.

Her background includes work supporting people impacted by sexual violence, bereavement, and complex trauma. Mary mentions experience supporting sex workers and those with varied gender and sexual identities. She also describes training roles and public speaking that inform how she shares coping skills and psychoeducation.

Practical goals in sessions might include reducing panic attacks, improving body image and self-compassion, or managing caregiver stress. Mary aims to help people connect body and mind so they can carry skills into daily life. She encourages straightforward conversation and small steps toward better day-to-day coping.

People who want to start are asked to use the Start Therapy button and complete a short matching questionnaire. That begins the process of arranging sessions according to the therapist's availability.

How Mary uses therapies online and what they offer

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people notice thoughts and feelings without getting stuck, then choose actions that match their values. It can be useful for anxiety, low mood and problems with motivation. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) looks at the link between thoughts, feelings and behaviours to reduce panic, challenge unhelpful thoughts and build practical coping steps. Attachment-Based Therapy focuses on patterns in relationships and how early bonds shape current emotional reactions, which can help with relationship difficulties and feeling safer with others.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. Mary will talk with each person about their goals, preferences and what has or hasn’t helped before. She aims to agree a plan together and to try methods that fit the individual's needs rather than imposing one fixed method.

Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy life by removing travel time and allowing appointments across different locations. It can also let people choose quieter or less visually-demanding check-ins when that helps them focus. Confirm the current session options before booking so you know which formats are offered and how scheduling will work.