Shirley Rocks, BACP

Shirley Rocks is a compassionate counsellor based in the United Kingdom who supports adults navigating difficult life transitions and emotional challenges. Trained with the Mid Ulster Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapy and with Cruse Bereavement, she developed a strong grounding in working with grief, loss, and emotional adjustment, and combines that foundation with a gentle, client-focused approach.

Shirley works from a compassion-focused stance, offering a respectful and non-judgemental space where people can explore what is troubling them at their own pace. She supports individuals facing grief and bereavement, addiction, sleep difficulties, anxiety, low self-confidence, and periods of emotional overwhelm, tailoring each therapeutic plan to the person’s needs, strengths, and goals.

Alongside traditional counselling, Shirley offers optional guided poetry and journaling exercises for those who find creative expression helpful; no prior writing experience is needed. Her aim is to help clients increase self-understanding, build emotional resilience, and develop a kinder relationship with themselves, meeting each person with warmth and sensitivity as they work towards greater clarity and wellbeing.

Shirley holds BACP registration, which indicates membership of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, the UK professional body for counsellors and psychotherapists.

Therapeutic approaches and online support

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, often called ACT, helps people notice and accept difficult thoughts and feelings while identifying personal values and taking meaningful action. It can be useful for anxiety, stress, low mood, and helping people move forward despite uncomfortable emotions.

Attachment-Based Therapy explores how early relationships shape current patterns of connection and trust, and works to strengthen emotional bonds, improve communication, and address issues like abandonment, attachment difficulties, and relationship distress.

Emotionally-Focused Therapy focuses on understanding and reshaping emotional responses within relationships, supporting people to access underlying feelings and improve relational intimacy and connection.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process. Shirley collaborates with clients to determine which methods best match their needs, goals, and preferences, adapting techniques as therapy progresses to ensure a good fit.

Online therapy with Shirley is offered via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, giving flexibility to fit therapy around work, family, and location. These options make it easier for people to access support from registered professionals and therapists without needing to travel, and they allow continuity of care for clients living internationally or with busy schedules.