About me
Feeling overwhelmed, anxious, emotionally exhausted or stuck?
Whatever has brought you here, you don't have to do it all alone.
How I can help:
We'll work together to understand what's happening beneath the surface rather than just managing symptoms. My aim is to help you recognise patterns, build emotional clarity, strengthen coping strategies, and create meaningful, lasting change.
A Neurodivergent way of thinking: If your story feels complicated, don't worry about overwhelming me. Connecting the dots to help you make sense of what's going on is a skill of mine, as I identify as neurodivergent myself.
"My dyslexia has been a gift: it helped me think creatively and laterally, and to see solutions where others saw only problems." (quote Richard Brandon)
I've had my own mental health journey: I've sat on your side of the chair. This adds a quiet depth to how I understand where you might be, while staying entirely focused on you.
Therapy with me is:
Warm, collaborative, and honest. I won't simply sit and nod. I'll help you explore what's beneath the surface, gently challenge you where appropriate, and support you in developing practical ways to move forward. Once we get to know each other, there may even be room for humour too. Therapy can be difficult enough without feeling heavy all of the time.
My theory approach: supports you to create understanding of the past, inform the present & formulate the right action, for you, in the now. I also like drawing on evidence-based tools from CBT, DBT, and ACT to work with intrusive thoughts, emotional regulation, values that inform your identity/ decision making & negative beliefs that are holding you back.
What to expect:
I offer a free 15-minute consultation so we can talk about what's bringing you to therapy, answer any questions you have, and decide whether we're the right fit.
We'll then have an initial 50-minute session where I take more of a lead, (sometimes it's hard to know where to start) asking about your history to build a picture of what's brought you here. From that, we'll shape goals for therapy, in-line with you you want, then book your next session!
Snippets from My Client Testimonials:
"I learned more about myself in that time than the other 25 years combined."
"Her balance of support and challenge was exactly what I needed to make real change."
“My anxiety is way down, and I feel more motivated again.”
“Maria helped me process a new ADHD diagnosis and boosted my self-esteem.”
👉 Want to read more? Use this link to get to know my style further: https://mariahowelltherapy.com/#clientreviews
Ready to take the next step?
Book the free, obligation free, 15-minute explorative consultation. I look forward to meeting you soon!
Training, qualifications & experience
- BACP (Accredited) – nationally recognised and board reviewed standard of expertise
- BA (Hons) Humanistic Person-Centred Counselling & further Psychotherapy training.
- Gottman Couples Therapy (L1), DBT Skills/Development Groups (L2), Trauma Therapy (CCTP / CCTP-11),
Professional Experience:
I've worked in mental health roles across schools, private practice, and community settings:
- Setting up my own international private practice
- Working with the award-winning private practice BCS, Wales
- Running an Art Psychotherapy group in assisted living
- Mental Health Support Workerin Australia (schizophrenia, bipolar, autism, BPD)
- Voluntary remote counselling via YMCA through Covid
- Play Therapy in multiple schools
Member organisations
school Registered / Accredited
Being registered/accredited with a professional body means an individual must have achieved a substantial level of training and experience approved by their member organisation.
BACP is one of the UK’s leading professional bodies for counselling and psychotherapy with around 60,000 members. The Association has several different categories of membership, including Student Member, Individual Member, Registered Member MBACP, Registered Accredited Member MBACP (Accred) and Senior Registered Accredited Member MBACP (Snr Acccred). Registered and accredited members are listed on the BACP Register, which shows that they have demonstrated BACP’s recommended standards for training, proficiency and ethical practice. The BACP Register was the first register of psychological therapists to be accredited by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA). Accredited and senior accredited membership are voluntary categories for members who choose to undertake a rigorous application and assessment process to demonstrate additional standards around practice, training and supervision. Individual members will have completed an appropriate counselling or psychotherapy course and started to practise, but they won’t appear on the BACP Register until they've demonstrated that they meet the standards for registration. Student members are still in the process of completing their training. All members are bound by the BACP Ethical Framework and a Professional Conduct Procedure.
Accredited register membership
The Accredited Register Scheme was set up in 2013 by the Department of Health (DoH) as a way to recognise organisations that hold voluntary registers which meet certain standards. These standards are set by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA).
This therapist has indicated that they belong to an Accredited Register.
Areas of counselling I deal with
Therapies offered
Photos & videos
Fees
£40.00 - £70.00
Concessions offered for
Additional information
To Enquire / Book:
- Include your mobile number with country/area code - essential for contacting you directly.
- Make sure to check your junk email folder if you don’t see a reply -my responses always filter to junk.
Fee Offers:
- *Couples - Offering reduced session costs at the same price as full price individual sessions*
- Limited reduced-fee daytime spaces currently available for low income
Session regularity:
- I offer flexible session bookings; bi-weekly & ad hoc, designed to work around your schedule.
When I work
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