About me
My name is Maria, and at Taking Strides Counselling, my goal is to provide a warm and compassionate space where we can explore your inner world together. We will work on ways to cope with difficult thoughts, feelings, emotions, and situations you may be struggling with.
My approach to counselling is tailored to you.
We will proceed at a pace that suits you, whether it’s short-term or long-term, with no time limit on when you might feel ready to conclude counselling. By getting to know who you are, we can move forward to where you want to be, whether it’s self-acceptance or managing specific emotions or situations.
I believe there is no one-size-fits-all solution. By working this way, I can adapt to your needs and offer the type of counselling that suits you, which may include creative work, worksheets, and mindfulness. You are the expert on what you need to bring to our sessions, and you will guide me through your inner world.
By searching for a counsellor, you have taken a step toward healing yourself or learning coping strategies. Whatever your reason, counselling can help. I bring a wealth of personal life experience, and while I may not know exactly how you feel because each of us experiences things differently, this helps me understand more of what you bring to our sessions.
Throughout my professional career, I have learned the importance of developing a relationship with my clients. Once established, this relationship helps you open up and explore your world, knowing that you are not judged and that I am right beside you.
Training, qualifications & experience
Foundation Degree in Counselling through Bath Spa University/University Centre Weston
I am a registered member of the BACP and I am fully insured
To further educate myself I undertake training which allows me to learn new skills and to further my knowledge.
I currently work on an Employee Assistance Helpline which allows me to gain further experience. I talk with those who are struggling with a variety of concerns from work difficulties to complex life choices/experiences and this has helped me to gain an even wider understanding of how certain events and even work can affect our daily lives.
With a wealth of personal life experience, I can empathise deeply with you. While we each navigate our own unique experiences, I can genuinely understand and view situations from your perspective. I've stood where you are now—uncertain, perhaps hesitant to open up to a stranger—but it was the most liberating decision I've ever made.
I have worked with a range of people from all walks of life and this has helped to shape the way I approach my clients. I believe this has helped me understand how important the relationship is within the counselling room and how important you are.
Member organisations
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
£45.00 per session
Free initial telephone session
Concessions offered for
Health Insurance/EAP
Additional information
£15 initial session up to 50 minutes
£45 per one hour session
I believe that counselling should be available to everyone, if you need support whilst on low income please contact me to discuss this further
When I work
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Friday and Sunday mornings are only available via video or phone.
I offer face-to-face, TEAMs and telephone sessions.
Further information
I can be contacted at anytime. If I do not answer please feel free to leave me a message with your contact details and the best time to call and I will get back to you asap.
I offer video and telephone sessions alongside face to face to give you the option if you are finding it difficult to leave home for any reason. Or we can walk and talk, being outside in nature can sometimes give us the peace we need to open up.
Remember you have taken the hardest step by searching for support and you are stronger than you believe. I look forward to hearing from you
