Maria RochaBACP

Maria Rocha is a counsellor with 12 years' experience and a British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) registration. She blends talking therapy with wider approaches influenced by spiritual and transpersonal ideas. Maria aims to help people make sense of painful patterns and to feel more grounded in day-to-day life.

Her approach is person-centred and practical. Sessions focus on what is happening now and on tracing difficult feelings back to their roots. She uses a mix of methods including cognitive behavioural ideas and attachment-focused work to support change in thoughts, feelings and relationships.

Maria also draws on existential and acceptance-based perspectives to help people find meaning and manage difficult thoughts. She may use gentle hypnotherapy techniques where appropriate, alongside conversational work. The aim is to strengthen a sense of identity and increase awareness of choices people can make.

People consult her for a wide range of concerns such as stress, anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, relationship and parenting issues, and life changes. She also offers support around body image, addiction and workplace stress. Sessions are offered in English and Portuguese and she accepts international clients.

To begin, people choose the Start Therapy button and complete a short matching questionnaire. Scheduling is then arranged according to the therapist's availability and the site's process.

How Maria's approaches translate to online therapy

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, or ACT, helps people notice unhelpful thoughts and choose values-based actions instead. It is often used for anxiety, stress and managing life transitions. Attachment-Based Therapy looks at how early relationships shape current patterns and helps people build more secure ways of relating. Client-Centred Therapy focuses on the person in front of the counsellor, offering listening, empathy and support to help people find their own answers.

Finding the right approach tends to be a collaborative process. The counsellor will discuss goals, preferences and practical needs with each person and recommend which methods might suit best. Over a few sessions they review what helps and adjust the plan together so the work fits the person's life.

Session formats are not specified in the biography, so confirm current options before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy week, reduce travel time and allow shorter check-ins when needed. It can also be more practical for people living outside the therapist's immediate area or for those juggling international schedules. Registered or accredited professionals can adapt exercises, breathing work and guided reflection to an online setting so the work remains focused on everyday change.