Maria Stannard, BACP

Maria Stannard offers calm, straightforward support for people facing stress, anxiety, depression and life changes. Maria is a BACP therapist who aims to make starting therapy feel manageable and respectful. Sessions are offered in English and can be arranged for people inside or outside the United Kingdom.

Maria uses a person-centred way of working that puts the client’s experience at the centre of the conversations. She listens without judgment and helps people notice their strengths. This makes it easier to work through fears, low mood, grief or confusion about identity.

She also draws on existential ideas to help people ask practical questions about meaning and purpose. Those conversations can help when life feels empty, when someone is reconsidering relationships, or when searching for direction after loss or change.

When trauma or past abuse is relevant, Maria uses trauma-focused methods to help people process difficult memories safely at a pace they choose. The focus is on reducing distress and building coping skills that fit day-to-day life.

Maria has five years of professional experience and is a registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, shown as BACP. She understands neurodivergence and supports people with autism and related concerns alongside issues such as eating, self-harm, obsessions and family strain.

Practical options include video calls, phone sessions, live chat and text messaging. Maria recommends starting with a short intake so she and the client can agree goals and the best way to work together.

How these approaches work online

Maria uses person-centred work to focus on what matters to the individual. In this approach the therapist listens closely and follows the client's lead, helping a person notice strengths and make choices that fit their life. It is useful for anxiety, low mood and relationship concerns.

Existential therapy is also part of Maria's practice and looks at questions of meaning, purpose and identity. These conversations can help when someone feels empty, is questioning gender or life direction, or is dealing with grief and loss.

Trauma-focused therapy is used when past harm affects day-to-day life. That work moves at the client's pace and concentrates on practical coping strategies and ways to reduce distress from memories or triggers.

Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. Maria will discuss goals and preferences in early meetings and suggest a combination of methods where helpful. Together the person and therapist decide what feels most useful and adjust the plan over time.

Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat and text messaging. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation across distances. Phone sessions are good for shorter check-ins or when lower bandwidth is needed. Live chat and text messaging suit people who prefer typed communication or a more flexible rhythm of contact. These options make therapy easier to fit around work, study and family life.