Maria Mars , HCPC

Maria Mars works from a clear, practical approach to therapy. She draws on tried-and-true methods to help people manage stress, anxiety, low mood and trauma. Maria uses simple, collaborative steps so sessions feel manageable and goal-focused.

She has 27 years of experience working in mental health settings across the public, voluntary and private sectors in the United Kingdom. Maria is registered with the Health and Care Professions Council - HCPC. Her background includes supporting people with depression, bipolar mood difficulties, anger and sleeping problems, as well as those facing identity questions and LGBT concerns.

Her work often focuses on parenting stress, compassion fatigue and the challenges that come with major life changes. She also helps people dealing with grief, relationship strain and the lasting effects of abuse. Additional areas she supports include ADHD, adoption and foster care matters, attachment concerns and communication problems.

Maria blends Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy ideas with attachment-based and client-centred ways of working. In practice this means setting clear goals, practising new skills between sessions and looking at patterns that keep problems going. Conversations are collaborative and paced to the client’s needs.

Sessions can include short skill-building exercises, gentle exploration of difficult memories and practical strategies for coping day to day. Her aim is to help people make sense of their experience, build manageable plans and discover steps they can use outside sessions.

How specific approaches work online and what to expect

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people notice what matters to them and take small steps towards those values, even when thoughts or feelings feel difficult. It is often useful for anxiety, low mood and coping with life changes. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) looks at the links between thoughts, feelings and behaviour and teaches practical techniques to change unhelpful patterns; it works well for anxiety, depression and sleep problems. Attachment-Based Therapy pays attention to how early relationships shape current patterns and can help when relationship problems, attachment issues or adoption-related concerns are affecting day-to-day life.

Choosing the right approach is part of the therapeutic process. The therapist will talk with you about your goals, try different techniques, and adapt the work as you learn what helps. This is a collaborative process where client preferences guide which methods are used.

Online sessions are offered by video calls, phone, live chat or text-based messaging to increase flexibility. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation and visual cues, phone sessions work with lower bandwidth and can fit into a short break, while live chat or messaging can suit quick check-ins or people who prefer typing. These options help make therapy more accessible around work, family life and other commitments.