Mary Hollow, BACP

Mary Hollow brings 23 years of experience as a counsellor in the United Kingdom. She offers calm, steady support to people facing stress, anxiety, grief, depression and major life changes. Her approach is warm and respectful, and she focuses on what each person needs in the moment. Mary adapts conversations and plans to match a client’s situation. She draws on Client-Centred Therapy to build understanding and trust, and uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help people change unhelpful thoughts and behaviours. Sessions are practical and grounded in day-to-day life. She also works with issues such as addictions, anger, low self-esteem and career uncertainty. Relationship difficulties, communication problems and challenges linked to trauma and abuse are within her remit. Additional focuses include forgiveness, guilt and shame, life purpose, self-love, social anxiety and post-traumatic stress. Mary aims to make therapy straightforward. She listens first, then helps people set small, achievable steps. Conversations may include practical strategies, reflective questioning and collaborative goal-setting. People seeking support can expect a compassionate, non-judgemental space. The emphasis is on steady progress rather than quick fixes. Mary encourages honesty about what does and does not feel helpful so the work can be adjusted as needed.

How Mary’s approaches work online

Client-Centred Therapy is about being heard and understood. The therapist follows the person’s lead, offering empathy and reflection to help people make sense of their feelings and choices. This approach suits issues like grief, self-esteem and life purpose where a steady, listening presence matters.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, looks at the links between thoughts, feelings and actions. It uses straightforward exercises and practical strategies to interrupt unhelpful patterns. CBT is often useful for anxiety, depression, social phobia and managing stress.

Deciding which approach to use is usually a shared process. Mary works collaboratively to match methods to a person’s goals and preferences. She will check in about what helps, adjust the pace, and combine listening with practical tasks when needed.

Online therapy offers flexibility for different schedules and needs. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation while phone sessions can be easier when bandwidth is limited or a quieter check-in is preferred. Live chat and text-based messaging suit shorter exchanges, written reflection or when someone wants asynchronous contact. These options make it simpler to fit therapy around work, family or other commitments while keeping the therapeutic work focused and practical.