Maria Russo

If you feel stressed, anxious, have relationship issues at times, have been feeling worse recently or are subject to bullying, domestic violence, or any kind of physical or emotional abuse and would you like to share your worries and concerns, you can talk to me in confidence and without judgment.

My approach is Humanistic Counselling based on Transactional Analysis (TA), combining characteristics typical of Person Centred therapies (e.g. empathy, unconditional positive regard, and congruence) with techniques used to examine human behaviour through the analysis of social transactions. It categorises these transactions into three ego states—Parent, Adult, and Child.

Through counselling, I can help you to understand how your interactions and communication patterns are and have been influenced by these internal ego states, come to terms with emotions, behaviours or other issues troubling you and find ways to improve your life and develop more effective interpersonal relationships.

My name is Maria, a fully qualified counsellor (BA Hons) and an Accredited practitioner (MBACP (Accred)) providing counselling and psychotherapy to young people (16 years+), individuals and couples on a variety of issues:

• anxiety
• depression
• stress
• conflict resolution
• panic attacks
• post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• phobias
• low self-esteem
• rape or sexual abuse
• anger management
• manic depression
• bullying and domestic violence
• self-harm
• sexual orientation
• relationship counselling
• couple counselling
• affairs and betrayals
• separation and divorce
• trauma
• addictions
• bipolar disorders
• eating disorders
• disability
• toxic relationships counselling

I provide specialist support to survivors of rape and sexual abuse during their healing process and have specific experience working with young people age 16-24.

I offer a safe, calm and compassionate environment, where you and I talk freely without being judged or criticised. I will help you to understand what is happening and why, explore and interpret the underlying causes. Together we will examine ways to deal with the issues and move forward. It is a joint effort where we work to overcome your difficult times and achieve long term positive changes in your life.

In addition to my private practice, I was a member of The Eaves Counselling and Psychological Services in Surrey and worked as assessor at the Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre in Guildford to deliver short term solution focused counselling for the NHS IAPT (Improving Access to Psychological Therapies) department in Surrey prior to moving to Cambridge.

I offer you:

• A passionate focus in helping you to achieve you best potential
• A realistic approach on searching for long term solutions whilst achieving measurable results as quickly as possible
• A supportive attitude where you and I work together in partnership to achieve change
• A commitment to using tools and therapeutic approaches tailored to suit your specific situations
• Flexible schedule, to fit your individual needs. Timing and locations of the therapy sessions will be agreed and can be adapted as your needs change
• An enthusiastic qualified therapist interested in continuous learning.

I can provide a flexible schedule, including evenings, on line or face to face supporting Cambridge city, Girton, Arbury, Chesterton, Milton, Histon and areas around Cambridge such as Madingley, Bar Hill, Northstowe.

You can contact me via Email: sunshinecounsellinguk@outlook.com or on 07816517913 to discuss your needs.

How I work

Transactional Analysis (Berne, 1910-1970) is the main theory supporting my therapeutic approach, “a theory of personality and a systematic psychotherapy for personal growth and personal change” (Stewart & Joines, 1997).

TA is a talking therapy where sessions are used to explore your personality and how your experiences, especially in childhood, shaped it.
TA is recognised as a modern form of psychology that incorporates elements of humanistic, person centred, integrative, psychodynamic therapies into a very versatile therapy that can help on a vast range of issues and problems, in treatment of all types of mental health disorders, from everyday living problems to severe issues.

You and I would work directly on here and now, addressing communication issues and solving problematic behaviours, helping you to find solution with the ultimate goal to ensure you regain absolute autonomy over your life.

I combine TA with the Re-decision therapy (Goulding & Goulding, 1917-1992) in a hybrid of Gestalt and TA that helps clients achieve a change in emotions and behaviours that counteract old decisions.

I use a variety of tools and creative techniques to help you to improve your life and to live it more fully.

Couple counselling
Relationship counselling

Fees (depending on time and location)

On Line
Monday to Friday 10 am - 5 pm 
60 GBP Individual Counselling

85 GBP Couple Counselling

Evenings
65 GBP Individual Counselling

90 GBP Couple Counselling

Face to Face
Monday to Friday 10 am - 5pm 

75 GBP Individual Counselling

100 GBP Couple Counselling

The number of sessions I offer depends on the individual needs. 

This can be discussed and agreed in the first session.  



Concessions can be agreed in special circumstances.