- Years in practice
- 4
- Registration
- BACP
- Languages
- English
- Focus
- Stress, Anxiety
- Focus
- Family conflicts
- Focus
- Trauma and abuse
About Shirley
Shirley Rocks is a counsellor who supports adults facing difficult life moments. She writes plainly and listens closely to help people untangle stress, anxiety and parenting pressures. Her approach is gentle and down to earth, aimed at making conversations feel manageable and practical for busy parents.
She trained with the Mid Ulster Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapy and with Cruse Bereavement, which shaped her work with grief and loss. Shirley is accredited by the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy - BACP.
Background and approach
She uses that background to offer steady emotional support rather than quick fixes. Shirley blends talking therapy with creative tools such as poetry and guided journaling. These options are offered when they fit a person’s style and comfort, and no prior writing experience is needed.
The writing exercises are used to help name feelings and open new ways of expressing them. Her sessions draw on approaches including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Attachment-Based ideas, client-centred listening, Emotionally-Focused Therapy and elements of the Gottman Method. She adapts these approaches to each person’s situation, focusing on what will help most right now.
People come to Shirley for help with grief, addiction, sleep problems, low self-esteem, trauma, relationship and parenting stresses. Her aim is to build emotional resilience and clearer self-understanding, one step at a time.
What Shirley works with
Everything Shirley lists, in their own terms. Parenting is the reason this directory exists; the rest shows what else Shirley helps people with.
- Stress, Anxiety
- Family conflicts
- Trauma and abuse
- Depression
- ADHD
- Addictions
- Relationship issues
- Grief
- Eating disorders
- Sleeping disorders
- Parenting issues
- Self esteem
- Abandonment
- Attachment issues
- Body image
- Communication problems
- Guilt and shame
- Isolation / loneliness
- Life purpose
- Midlife crisis
- Narcissism
- Panic disorder and panic attacks
- Post-traumatic stress
- Self-love
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Women's issues
- Workplace issues
Approaches Shirley lists
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Attachment-Based Therapy
- Client-Centred Therapy
- Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)
- Gottman Method
- Mindfulness Therapy
- Solution-Focused Therapy
Listing an approach is not evidence of training in it. This directory copies what each counsellor names and does not check training records.
Therapeutic approaches and online access
Shirley uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Attachment-Based Therapy in her work. ACT focuses on noticing thoughts and choosing actions that align with your values, which can help with anxiety, avoidance and low mood. Attachment-Based Therapy looks at patterns in relationships and how early bonds shape current feelings, which can be useful for parenting stresses and relationship difficulties.Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. Shirley will listen to your goals and try different ways of working to find what helps most. She adapts methods to fit your needs rather than insisting on one way of doing therapy.
Online sessions are offered by video call, phone, live chat or text-based messaging to make support more flexible. Video calls let you see non-verbal cues and hold longer conversations, phone sessions can work well when bandwidth is limited, live chat suits short check-ins, and text messaging can fit around busy days or shift work. These options make it easier to keep therapy going around family life and other commitments.
Questions people ask about Shirley
What concerns does Shirley help with?
Shirley supports adults with stress, anxiety, depression, trauma, addictions, grief and parenting pressures. She also helps with sleep and eating issues, self-esteem and workplace worries.
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
Her style is warm and client-centred, combining compassionate listening with practical tools. She may offer guided journaling or poetry alongside talking therapy when appropriate.
What is her professional background?
Shirley trained with the Mid Ulster Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapy and with Cruse Bereavement, and has worked with loss and emotional transition. She has four years of clinical experience.
What credentials and location are listed?
Shirley holds accreditation with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and is based in the United Kingdom.
Which languages are supported for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English and she is able to work with international clients.
What session formats are available?
Shirley offers video calls, phone sessions, live chat and text-based messaging to suit different needs and schedules.
How are sessions paid for and what do they cost?
Costs vary with location and therapist availability. Sessions are provided through a subscription model that can be cancelled at any time.
How do I start working with Shirley?
Begin by clicking the Start Therapy button, completing a short matching questionnaire, and then scheduling sessions according to therapist availability.
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