Meet Maria
BACP Registered Counsellor
My Philosophy
I don't believe people need fixing. I believe the ways we cope, relate and protect ourselves often make sense when we understand what we have lived through.
Sometimes the things we struggle with most began as ways of getting through something difficult. You may have learned to keep the peace, put other people first, stay strong, shut down what you were feeling, or adapt yourself to what others needed from you. Those ways of coping can make complete sense, even when they now leave you feeling stuck, overwhelmed or disconnected from yourself.
I believe meaningful change begins with understanding and accepting ourselves as we are, rather than pushing ourselves to become someone different. When we can meet ourselves with greater compassion, curiosity and honesty, new possibilities can begin to emerge.
For me, therapy is about creating space to understand yourself with less judgement and more compassion. Together, we can explore what has shaped you, what may still be affecting you now, and what becomes possible as you begin to understand yourself more fully.
My Qualifications and Memberships
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BSc (Hons) Humanistic Counselling, Middlesex University, training at Metanoia Institute, London
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Diploma in Humanistic Counselling, Metanoia Institute
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Certificate in Online and Telephone Counselling, Metanoia Institute
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Accredited RNIB Counsellor for Sight Loss
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CPCAB Level 3 Counselling Studies
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CPCAB Level 2 Counselling Skills
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Level 2 Safeguarding Adults
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Level 2 Safeguarding Children
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Enhanced DBS
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Fully Insured
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ICO Registered Reg: ZC080550
My Approach to Counselling
I'm a humanistic therapist working relationally, with a trauma-informed and attachment-aware approach. This means I see you as a whole person, shaped by your experiences, relationships and the ways you have learned to cope and connect with others.
The relationship between us is an important part of the work. I believe therapy is something we explore together, with empathy, compassion, curiosity and respect for your individual experience and pace.
My training brings together Person-Centred Therapy, Gestalt and Transactional Analysis. I don't follow a rigid formula, but draw on different aspects of my training depending on you, what you bring to therapy, and what emerges in our work together.