Shelly Thomas-Baines , NCPS

Shelly Thomas-Baines is a counsellor based in the United Kingdom who helps people manage stress, anxiety, depression, trauma and grief. She also supports people working on self‑esteem and confidence. Shelly uses a respectful, compassionate style to make talking about hard things feel more manageable.

Shelly draws on client‑centred ways of working. She listens closely and adapts sessions to each person’s needs. This means the conversation focuses on what matters most to the individual rather than following a rigid plan.

She also uses mindfulness practices to help people notice and calm difficult thoughts and physical tension. Simple breathing and grounding exercises are offered when they can help reduce overwhelm in the moment.

For those affected by past harm, Shelly applies trauma‑focused approaches that prioritise safety and pacing. She helps people work through memories and reactions at a speed that feels doable for them. This is useful for complex issues such as abuse and attachment wounds.

With four years of professional experience and the NCPS credential, Shelly supports people navigating a wide range of concerns. Additional focus areas include abandonment, ageing and geriatric issues, autism and Asperger syndrome, cancer, caregiving stress, chronic illness and pain, codependency, communication and relationship stressors, and separation and divorce.

How Shelly uses gentle methods online

Client‑centred therapy focuses on listening and adapting to the person in front of the counsellor. It means sessions are guided by the client’s priorities, with the counsellor offering empathy and reflection to help people make sense of their feelings. This approach is helpful for stress, low mood and self‑esteem concerns.

Mindfulness therapy offers simple exercises to notice thoughts and bodily sensations without getting swept away by them. Practices include short breathing and grounding exercises that reduce tension and help clients respond rather than react. Mindfulness can support anxiety, grief and ongoing stress.

Finding the right approach is a shared process. Shelly will talk with each person about their goals and try methods that suit their needs and preferences. She checks in regularly and adjusts pacing, so the work feels manageable and collaborative rather than prescriptive.

Online sessions are available by video, phone, live chat or text‑based messaging to fit different lifestyles. Video calls allow face‑to‑face conversation, phone sessions work well when bandwidth is limited, and messaging or live chat can suit short check‑ins or people who prefer writing. These options make it easier to fit counselling around work, caregiving or mobility needs.