Maria Stride, BACP, NCPS

Maria Stride is a person-centred counsellor based in the United Kingdom with six years of experience supporting people through trauma, loss, and everyday mental health challenges. She cultivates a warm, empathic, and down-to-earth atmosphere in which individuals can explore their concerns at a pace that feels right for them. Maria works collaboratively rather than following a rigid method, tailoring sessions to what feels comfortable and meaningful for each person.

Her practice blends traditional talking therapy with creative techniques such as art and play therapy to help express emotions that can be difficult to put into words. This flexible approach makes her well suited to work with a wide range of issues, including stress, anxiety, relationship difficulties, grief, self-esteem, addiction, and coping with life changes. Maria also supports people facing more specific challenges such as attachment and intimacy-related issues, caregiver stress, and career concerns.

She holds the credentials BACP and NCPS, professional registrations that indicate formal training and adherence to recognised standards in counselling and psychotherapy. Maria offers a steady, compassionate presence aimed at helping people find clarity, build resilience, and identify new possibilities for moving forward.

Therapeutic Approaches for Online Support

Maria uses client-centred therapy to create a supportive, non-judgemental space where the person’s own goals and values guide the work. This approach is especially helpful for people processing grief, relationship difficulties, self-esteem concerns, or major life changes because it focuses on understanding each person’s experience on their terms.

She also draws on mindfulness therapy to help people develop present-moment awareness and simple, practical skills for managing stress and anxiety. Mindfulness techniques can support clearer thinking, improved emotional regulation, and a calmer response to difficult thoughts and sensations.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process, and Maria works collaboratively with each person to identify which methods fit best with their needs, goals, and preferences. She adapts techniques over time so therapy remains relevant and effective for the individual.

Online therapy with Maria is offered through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging, providing flexibility to fit different schedules and communication styles. These options make it easier to access therapy from home or while travelling, and they allow people to choose the format that feels most comfortable for discussing sensitive topics.