Counsellor profile
Sharon Merchant, BACP
Counsellor - Grief and anxiety support
See online counselling options- Client-Centred Therapy
- BACP member
- Bereavement focus
About Sharon
Counsellor Sharon Merchant is a BACP member with 12 years of experience. He works with stress, anxiety, grief, anger, self-esteem, depression, relationship and family concerns, parenting issues and coping with life changes.
Sharon has a strong background in bereavement and end-of-life support and also addresses infidelity, multicultural concerns, postpartum depression and prejudice and discrimination. He focuses on helping people name what feels difficult and make small, practical changes that feel possible.
Sessions are straightforward and centred on the person seeking help. He uses Client-Centred Therapy to listen carefully and follow the concerns a person brings. Conversations aim to be clear and practical rather than full of jargon.
Sharon draws on a decade plus of practice in the United Kingdom. He offers support for common problems such as low mood, anxiety and strained relationships, and for grief related to loss and hospice care. He also helps with parenting stresses and life transitions.
People can expect short-term work or longer conversations depending on need. Sharon asks about what matters most at the first meeting and helps set simple goals. He explains options and next steps so people can decide if they want to continue.
To begin, he suggests using the site matching tool and booking a first session. The initial steps include a short questionnaire and arranging the first appointment.
Approach and practicalities for online counselling
Client-Centred Therapy focuses on the person rather than set techniques. The counsellor listens closely and follows what the client brings. This approach is often used for anxiety, depression, grief and relationship concerns because it allows people to speak about what matters to them.Finding the right approach is part of the work. The counsellor will discuss goals, needs and preferences and agree together what to try. That collaborative decision is reviewed as sessions continue so the plan can change if needed.
Confirm the exact session formats before booking as the biography does not list specific options. Online sessions can help fit counselling into a busy week and reduce travel time. They also allow shorter check-ins when a full session is not needed and make it easier to have a session during a lunch break or between commitments. Registered or accredited professionals can work this way and will explain the practical steps for scheduling and joining sessions.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
12+ years
Listed in
United Kingdom
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does he help with most often?
He works with stress, anxiety, grief, anger, low self-esteem, depression, relationship and family matters, parenting and coping with life changes.
What style of counselling does he use?
He uses Client-Centred Therapy, which focuses on listening and responding to what each person brings to the session.
How long has he been practising?
He has 12 years of experience working in counselling roles in the United Kingdom.
What credentials does he hold and where does he work?
He is a member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and practises in the United Kingdom.
Which languages are sessions offered in?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can people outside the UK work with him?
He is not currently accepting international clients.
How are sessions paid for?
Cost varies with location; sessions use a subscription that can be cancelled at any time.
How do I start a first session?
Use the See online counselling options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule a first session.
Details come from information the counsellor supplied to BetterHelp. A membership or registration can be checked on the professional body's own register.
Online counselling is not emergency care. In an emergency call 999, or see the help numbers.