Maria Palej, BACP, NCPS

Maria Palej is a United Kingdom based therapist who works with people facing stress, anxiety, relationship difficulties, depression and the after-effects of trauma or abuse. She supports clients dealing with panic attacks, challenges in intimacy, addiction, grief and the many practical strains of daily life that can leave someone feeling stuck or unable to move forward. Maria also offers help with family tensions, parenting concerns, eating or sleeping problems, and neurodiverse presentations such as ADHD.

She brings six years of professional experience and holds BACP and NCPS credentials. BACP refers to the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy and NCPS indicates registration with a recognised counselling body - both signal formal training and adherence to professional standards. Maria works in English and Polish, and provides therapy attuned to each person’s background and needs.

Maria uses an integrative approach, adapting methods to suit the individual rather than applying a single model to every client. She draws on person-centred and psychodynamic ideas to explore patterns and relationships that shape current difficulties, while also offering practical tools when clients want focused support to overcome specific problems. The first session is an opportunity to get to know her, ask questions about therapy, and share what has brought someone to counselling, so a collaborative plan can be established from the start.

Therapeutic approaches and flexible online support

Maria combines client-centred and psychodynamic approaches alongside mindfulness techniques to tailor therapy to each person’s needs. Client-centred therapy focuses on creating a respectful, non-judgemental space where the client’s own goals and resources lead the work - it is helpful for building self-esteem, improving relationships and managing anxiety. Psychodynamic therapy explores how past relationships and unconscious patterns influence present feelings and behaviours - it can be useful for understanding long-standing difficulties such as attachment or recurring relationship problems. Mindfulness therapy teaches practical ways to notice thoughts and sensations with less reactivity - it often supports people coping with stress, intrusive thoughts and mood fluctuations.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process and Maria works collaboratively with clients to determine what fits best. She discusses options, adjusts methods as therapy progresses, and integrates more practical or exploratory techniques according to the client’s goals and preferences.

Online therapy offers practical benefits such as greater scheduling flexibility and easier access for those balancing work, family or mobility constraints. Sessions may be delivered by video call, phone, live chat or text-based messaging, allowing clients to choose formats that suit their comfort level and lifestyle while still working with a registered professional.