Emma Louise Sharkey , BACP

Emma Louise Sharkey supports people facing stress, anxiety, relationship difficulties, trauma and abuse, low self-esteem and depression. She also helps with addictions, grief, sleep and eating struggles, parenting concerns, ADHD and career questions. Emma works with LGBT clients and offers support around family and caring roles. She is based in the United Kingdom and has three years of professional experience as a BACP counsellor.

Emma uses a straightforward, person-focused style in sessions. She starts by listening to a person's story and priorities. Then she helps people spot strengths they can use to cope and move forward. Conversations are practical and paced to the individual's needs.

Her toolkit includes client-centred methods that keep the person at the centre of planning. She also draws on trauma-focused approaches and EMDR when past events continue to cause distress. Hypnotherapy is available as another option for people who respond well to guided relaxation and imagery.

Emma treats each concern as part of a wider life story. She aims to make sessions feel manageable and clear, not overwhelming. Practical steps and small changes are emphasised alongside emotional support.

People new to therapy are guided through the first steps and what to expect in early sessions. Emma believes taking that first step shows real courage and uses the early meetings to build a working plan together.

Therapeutic approaches for online support

Emma combines client-centred work with trauma-focused methods to help people process distressing experiences and build coping skills. Client-Centred Therapy puts the person at the heart of the process, emphasising listening, empathy and collaborative goal setting to tackle issues like anxiety, low self-esteem and relationship worries. Trauma-Focused Therapy addresses the impact of past events directly, helping people reduce distressing symptoms and regain control over daily life.

She also uses Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) where appropriate, a method that can help reduce the intensity of traumatic memories through guided processing. These approaches are offered as options rather than fixed rules. The therapist will work with each person to choose what fits best based on their goals, history and preferences in a collaborative way.

Online sessions are available by video call, phone, live chat or text-based messaging to suit different needs. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation when visual contact matters. Phone sessions can be a good option when bandwidth is limited or when a shorter check-in is needed. Live chat and messaging offer flexible, written ways to reflect between sessions or fit therapy into busy days. Together, these formats aim to make therapy more accessible and easier to fit into everyday life.