Maria Mars, HCPC

Maria Mars is a UK based Chartered Clinical Psychologist with 27 years of professional experience offering psychological support to children, young people and adults across public, voluntary and private mental health settings. She is registered with the HCPC, the UK regulator for health and care professionals, which confirms her standing to practise as a clinical psychologist. Maria combines clinical knowledge with a calm, collaborative style to help people understand their experiences and make practical changes.

Her work covers a wide range of difficulties including stress and anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, parenting challenges, low self-esteem and identity concerns related to race and sexual orientation. She also supports people with grief, relationship problems, sleep difficulties, anger, bipolar disorder, ADHD and coping with life changes, as well as professionals experiencing compassion fatigue. Additional focus areas include adoption and foster care, attachment issues, autism and Asperger syndrome, caregiver stress, communication difficulties, family of origin problems, domestic violence, gender dysphoria, immigration issues, intellectual disability, isolation and veteran issues.

Maria draws on evidence-based methods such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Attachment-Based approaches, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, adapting techniques to suit each person. She prioritises building a warm, trusting and collaborative relationship, helping clients set realistic goals and develop skills that improve psychological functioning. Maria aims to empower people to make meaningful changes and to work together to find the most helpful path forward.

Therapeutic approaches and online care with Maria Mars

Maria often uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy - a practical, problem-focused approach that helps people identify unhelpful thoughts and patterns, test them against reality and build alternative coping strategies. It is commonly used for anxiety, depression, sleep difficulties and many everyday stresses.

Attachment-Based Therapy is another core focus, which explores how early relationships influence current patterns in relationships and emotion regulation. This work can help with parenting concerns, adoption and foster care issues, attachment difficulties and relationship challenges.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) complements these approaches by encouraging acceptance of difficult internal experiences while clarifying personal values and committed action. ACT can support people facing chronic worry, low mood and major life transitions.

Finding the right therapeutic approach is part of the work itself. Maria takes a collaborative stance, helping clients choose or blend methods based on individual needs, goals and preferences so the plan fits the person rather than the other way around.

Online therapy offers practical flexibility - sessions can take place by video call, phone, live chat or text messaging to suit different schedules and comfort levels. This range of options makes it easier to attend regularly, maintain continuity of care across locations and tailor communication to what works best for each client.