- Work and wellbeing
- Trauma-aware
- Autistic perspective
About Maria
Maria Stannard is a person-centred counsellor who focuses on work and wellbeing concerns such as stress, anxiety and relationship strain. Maria uses a direct, respectful style and encourages people to name what matters most to them. They aim to make the first step easier and acknowledge the courage it takes to ask for help.
They draw on five years of professional practice in the United Kingdom and hold membership of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, abbreviated as BACP. This registration is listed as BACP Therapist - Registered Member MBACP. Maria also identifies as autistic and brings that lived experience into their work.
Maria uses person-centred ideas in sessions, which means conversations are led by the person attending rather than the counsellor. Existential perspectives also appear in their work, helping people consider meaning, choice and purpose. They include trauma-focused ways of working where past harm needs attention.
Maria supports people with a wide range of concerns. These include depression, anxiety, grief, eating and body-image issues, LGBT and gender dysphoria questions, family and caregiver stress, dissociation and self-harm, as well as obsessive-compulsive patterns. They also work with people managing intellectual disability or autistic traits.
Their approach is practical and plain. Sessions aim to make daily life easier and to help people notice and use their own strengths. Before booking, people should confirm current session options and scheduling details.
How these approaches shape online sessions
Maria uses person-centred work that puts the person's own priorities first. In practice this means the counsellor follows the client’s lead, listens without judgement and helps people build on their own strengths. This approach is often helpful for stress, relationship concerns and self-esteem issues.Existential ideas appear when people want to look at life direction, purpose and choice. These conversations help when someone feels stuck, empty or unsure about their next steps. Trauma-focused work is used when painful past experiences need specific attention, helping people process difficult memories and reduce the impact of those events on day-to-day life.
Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. The counsellor will discuss the different methods and help decide which to try first, based on the person’s goals and preferences. People can expect to review progress and adjust the way they work together as needed.
The practical benefits of online sessions depend on the formats offered, which are not specified in the biography. Please confirm available session formats before booking. In general, remote sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy week, allow shorter check-ins when needed and reduce travel time. They can also suit people who prefer not to be on camera or who need less bandwidth for a session.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
5+ years
Credentials
United Kingdom
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What issues can I bring to sessions?
Maria helps with stress, anxiety, depression and relationship strain. They also support people dealing with trauma, grief, eating and body-image concerns and questions about gender and LGBT matters.
What is their therapeutic style like?
Sessions are person-centred, so the conversation follows what matters to the person attending. Existential ideas about meaning and choice may be used, plus trauma-focused approaches when past harm needs addressing.
How much experience does this counsellor have?
They have five years of professional experience working in the United Kingdom. Their background includes supporting people with neurodivergence and family-related stresses.
What credentials and region are listed?
Maria is listed as BACP Therapist - Registered Member MBACP and practises in the United Kingdom.
Can I work with them if I live outside the UK?
Sessions are offered to international clients. People taking part should confirm any regional considerations before booking.
Which session formats are offered?
Session formats are not specified in the biography. Please confirm the current session options with the service before scheduling.
How does payment and cost work?
Costs vary with location and therapist availability and the service uses a subscription model that can be cancelled at any time.
How do I begin working with this counsellor?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions according to the therapist's availability.