- Compassion-focused care
- Writing-based tools
- Practical coping skills
About Shirley
Shirley Rocks is a counsellor who aims to help people facing intense worry, panic, or life changes. She writes and listens with warmth, and offers straightforward support for stress, anxiety, panic attacks, grief, and low confidence. Her manner is calm and down-to-earth, so conversations stay practical and rooted in everyday life.
She trained with the Mid Ulster Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapy and with Cruse Bereavement, and holds BACP accreditation. That background shaped her work with grief, loss and emotional transition. Shirley draws on those experiences when people are dealing with overwhelming feelings or sudden change.
Her approach is compassion-focused and person-centred, so sessions move at the client’s pace. She uses gentle techniques to build emotional understanding, increase resilience, and reduce the hold of anxious or panicked thinking. Writing and poetry are offered as optional tools for people who find words hard to access.
Shirley adapts therapy to each person’s needs and strengths rather than following a fixed script. She aims to help people notice patterns, try new responses, and develop kinder self-talk. Many come to her wanting relief from panic attacks, social anxiety, sleep problems, or difficulties at work or in relationships.
She works in the United Kingdom and offers sessions in English. Shirley encourages a collaborative process where goals are clear and realistic, and practical steps are taken between meetings to support longer-term change.
How therapy approaches shape online sessions
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, or ACT, focuses on noticing thoughts and choosing actions that align with values. It’s useful for anxiety, panic and persistent worry because it teaches ways to live alongside difficult thoughts rather than fight them. Attachment-Based Therapy looks at early relationship patterns and how they affect current connections and emotional reactions; this can help when anxiety, abandonment fears or attachment wounds drive distress. Client-Centred Therapy places the person’s experience at the heart of sessions, offering empathic listening and non-judgemental reflection to help people find their own solutions.Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will discuss your goals and preferences and together you will try methods that fit your needs. That collaborative process means techniques can be adjusted as progress is made and as new issues arise.
The biography does not list specific online formats, so please confirm available session types before booking. In general, online therapy can make it easier to fit meetings around work, childcare and travel. It also lets people use shorter check-ins, choose audio-only options when bandwidth is limited, or avoid camera time if that feels better. Registered or accredited professionals can adapt the chosen approach for online sessions so practical skills and emotional understanding are still central.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
4+ years
Listed in
United Kingdom
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of problems does Shirley help with?
She supports people with stress, anxiety, panic attacks, grief, addiction, sleep and eating difficulties, low self-esteem, workplace issues and related concerns.
How would you describe the therapeutic style?
Her style is compassion-focused and client-centred, with gentle, practical work on thoughts, feelings and behaviour. Poetry and journaling are optional tools when they suit the person.
What experience does she have?
She has four years of clinical experience and has worked extensively with grief, loss and emotional transition through her training with Cruse Bereavement.
What credentials and location are listed?
She holds BACP accreditation and practices in the United Kingdom.
Can you work with someone outside the UK?
Sessions are offered to international clients and are conducted in English.
What session formats are available?
The original biography does not specify session formats, so please confirm the current options before booking.
How does payment or cost work?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be cancelled at any time.
How do I begin working with Shirley?
Use the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to therapist availability.