Shirley Rocks, BACP

Counsellor Shirley Rocks is a BACP member with four years' experience. She works with adults on issues such as grief, addiction, anxiety, low self-confidence, sleep problems and emotional overwhelm. She practises in the United Kingdom and offers sessions in English, including for people based outside the UK.

Shirley trained with the Mid Ulster Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapy and with Cruse Bereavement, where she focused on grief and loss work. Her background includes using writing as part of sessions, and she offers optional guided poetry and journaling for people who find that helpful.

Her way of working aims to be respectful and non-judgemental. She helps people talk through difficult feelings at a pace they can manage. Sessions cover practical matters such as coping with panic, improving sleep, managing addictive behaviours, and working through relationship or workplace stress.

Shirley uses a mix of approaches. These include Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, attachment-based ideas, client-centred methods, Emotionally-Focused Therapy and elements of the Gottman Method. She draws on these to help people make sense of patterns and try new ways of responding.

Writing exercises are optional and are introduced gently in sessions. No prior writing experience is needed; the focus is on expression rather than technique. People who prefer talking only are supported in that way too.

To begin, people complete a short matching questionnaire and arrange an initial session. Fees vary with location and use a subscription that can be cancelled at any time.

How her approaches can work in online counselling