Sharon McHugh, BACP

Sharon McHugh is a counsellor based in the United Kingdom with seven years of practice. She focuses on helping people recover from anxiety and trauma rooted in difficult early life experiences. Sharon aims to offer sessions that follow the client’s lead and help them make steady changes over time.

She keeps sessions simple and direct. At the first appointment she and the client agree goals and a plan. The client brings what matters that week and Sharon asks questions to help make sense of those experiences together.

Her work often supports people who grew up in environments where they felt they had to hide parts of themselves. That can show up later as low self-esteem, people pleasing, emptiness, or difficulties trusting what they feel. Sharon helps people recognise those patterns and find practical ways to change them.

Sharon uses a mix of approaches to suit each person. She combines client-centred listening with structured ideas from cognitive behavioural methods and brief solution-focused techniques. Hypnotherapy can also be offered where it fits the client’s goals.

She has worked in private practice and with external agencies. Sharon holds membership with the British Association for Counsellors and Psychotherapists - BACP. She continues to update her skills through regular training and development.

People who choose to work with her can expect a calm, non-judgemental space to talk and a collaborative plan to move forward. She invites anyone feeling stuck to take a first step and talk through what they need.

How Sharon’s approaches work online

Sharon uses client-centred therapy to prioritise what the person brings to each session, offering empathic listening and reflecting to help people understand their own experience. This approach suits those who need space to tell their story and make sense of it in their own words.

She also draws on cognitive behavioural therapy - CBT - which focuses on identifying unhelpful thoughts and trying practical experiments to change them. CBT is often helpful for anxiety, panic, low mood and sleep difficulties. Dialectical behaviour therapy - DBT - adds skills for managing strong emotions, reducing impulsive behaviour and improving coping in high-stress moments.

Choosing the right approach is part of the work together. Sharon will discuss options, try techniques in session, and adjust the mix based on the client's goals and feedback. The process is collaborative and designed to match what the person needs as they progress.

Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat and text-based messaging. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation and use of visual cues. Phone sessions can be a good fit when bandwidth is limited or for shorter check-ins. Live chat and messaging suit people who prefer written conversations or need flexible timing. These options make it easier to fit therapy around work, family and travel while keeping continuity of care.