Maria Stride, BACP, NCPS

Maria Stride helps people facing stress, anxiety, low self-esteem, depression and relationship difficulties. She also supports those dealing with grief, trauma and abuse, addiction concerns, intimacy questions and career or life changes. Maria uses a calm, down-to-earth style so people can speak honestly about what matters to them.

Maria has six years of experience as a counsellor. She is listed with BACP, the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, and with NCPS, the National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society. Those memberships reflect her commitment to ongoing practice and professional growth.

Her sessions are collaborative and person-centred. That means the conversation follows the client’s pace and priorities rather than fitting them to a fixed method. Maria also blends mindful techniques to help people manage distress and solution-focused ideas to set clear, achievable goals.

Practical, simple tools often appear in sessions. Clients might work on grounding exercises, notice patterns in relationships, or try short strategies to ease sleepless nights and anger. Creative activities are used sometimes to help express feelings that are hard to put into words.

Maria accepts people from the United Kingdom and international clients for online work. She offers video calls, phone sessions, live chat and text-based messaging. To begin, clients complete a short matching questionnaire and then schedule sessions that suit them.

Approach-focused online counselling and flexible sessions

Client-Centred Therapy puts the person at the heart of the session. The counsellor listens without directing, helping people find their own answers and build on their strengths. This approach is useful for those wanting a gentle, paced way to talk about feelings and life events.

Mindfulness Therapy teaches simple ways to notice thoughts and bodily sensations without getting overwhelmed. Short grounding and breathing practices are used to reduce stress, improve sleep and manage anxiety in day-to-day life.

Finding the right approach is part of the process. The therapist will work with the client to choose methods that fit their goals and preferences, adjusting techniques as needed through conversation and short practical exercises. This is a collaborative effort focused on what helps most.

Online sessions can be arranged by video call, phone, live chat or text-based messaging. Video calls allow fuller visual contact for deeper conversation. Phone sessions can be easier when a quieter moment is needed or when bandwidth is limited. Live chat and messaging suit brief check-ins or when written reflection feels most helpful. These options make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life and to start work regardless of location.