MC Portrait of Maria Connolly

Maria Connolly, BACP

Compassionate counsellor for anxiety and stress

3 years in practice · based in United Kingdom · sessions in English · online sessions

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About Maria

Maria Connolly is a BACP counsellor based in the United Kingdom with three years of professional experience. She focuses on helping people who are struggling with stress, anxiety, low self-esteem, relationship problems and depression. Maria also supports those navigating LGBT concerns and people wrestling with motivation and confidence.

She aims to make the first steps into therapy easier by offering a warm and non-judgemental space. Maria draws on her own experience of having attended therapy to create an approachable atmosphere.

Book with Maria Now Review online therapy options and next steps.

Background and approach

Sessions are intended to let clients speak openly and make sense of difficult thoughts and feelings. In practice she listens closely and works with each person to set clear, realistic goals. Conversations cover what is happening now and how past experiences might still be affecting day-to-day life.

Maria pays attention to patterns such as attachment and codependency, and she helps people explore choices and boundaries. She also supports people dealing with body image worries, chronic illness or pain, guilt and shame, isolation, and issues around control and abandonment. Practical strategies and small experiments between sessions are used to build confidence and manage anxiety.

Maria prefers a straightforward, compassionate approach. She encourages honest feedback about what helps and what does not, so the work can be adjusted as therapy progresses.

How therapeutic approaches translate to online sessions

Maria uses established, evidence-based therapeutic techniques to help people with anxiety and stress. One approach focuses on practical problem solving and behavioural experiments to test unhelpful thoughts and build new habits; this helps when anxiety feels overwhelming and you want manageable steps forward. Another emphasises exploring attachment and relational patterns to understand how past relationships influence current worries and relationship difficulties; this can help with loneliness, codependency and relationship stress.

Finding the right approach is usually a collaborative process. The therapist will listen to your concerns, discuss goals and try methods together to see what fits. If something doesn’t feel helpful, it can be adjusted so the work stays relevant to your needs and preferences.

Online sessions are offered by video call, phone, live chat or text-based messaging to make therapy flexible. Video calls work well for face-to-face conversation and visual cues, while phone sessions use less bandwidth and can fit into a break at work. Live chat and messaging suit shorter check-ins and ongoing support between longer sessions. These options make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life and access consistent support from registered or accredited professionals.
Book with Maria Now Review online therapy options and next steps.

Questions people ask

What types of problems does this counsellor address?
Maria commonly helps people with stress, anxiety, low self-esteem, relationship difficulties and depression, plus a range of related concerns such as body image, chronic illness and loneliness.
How would you describe the therapy style here?
The style is warm and straightforward, with listening, practical goal setting and small experiments between sessions to build skills and confidence.
What is the counsellor's background and experience?
She has three years of professional experience and has personally attended therapy, which she says informs her empathic approach.
Where is the counsellor based and what credentials are held?
Maria works from the United Kingdom and holds BACP registration as stated in her profile.
In which languages are sessions offered and are international clients accepted?
Sessions are offered in English and international clients are accepted.
What session formats are available?
Therapy is offered by video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to suit different preferences and schedules.
How does pricing work for sessions?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be cancelled at any time.
How do I begin working with this counsellor?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, completing a short matching questionnaire, and scheduling according to the therapist's availability.

What this therapist works with

Most often

Experience
3 years
Licensed
Languages
English

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