Maria Stride

Maria Stride is a person-centred counsellor who helps people manage stress, anger, anxiety and relationship strain. She offers a calm, non-judgemental space to talk about grief, low self-esteem, addiction struggles and other life changes. Maria's straightforward style aims to make difficult conversations feel more manageable. With six years of practice, Maria keeps sessions down-to-earth and collaborative. She listens first and follows the pace the person needs. Practical tools and short, goal-focused steps are used alongside open conversation to help people notice small changes over time. Maria blends client-centred work with mindfulness techniques to help people stay present and reduce intense reactions. She also draws on solution-focused ideas to set clear, achievable next steps. Creative methods such as art and playful exercises are available when words do not feel enough. Her experience covers a wide range of concerns including trauma and abuse, intimacy-related issues, sleeping problems, career stresses, and compassion fatigue. She also supports people navigating fertility, caregiving strain, hoarding, and feelings of isolation and shame. Maria is registered with BACP and NCPS and works from the United Kingdom. Sessions are conducted in English and she can work with international clients. Before booking, people should confirm the current session formats available.

How her approaches translate to online work

Client-Centred Therapy focuses on listening and making space for the person's own goals. The therapist follows what matters to the person and supports them to find their own understanding and solutions. This approach can help when someone needs time to talk through feelings like anger, grief or low self-esteem. Mindfulness Therapy teaches simple ways to notice thoughts and bodily reactions in the moment. Those skills can reduce reactivity and help with stress, sleeping problems and anxiety. Solution-Focused Therapy looks at small, practical steps and what can be done next. It suits people who want clear, short-term goals and ways to measure progress. Finding the right approach is part of the work; the therapist will discuss options and decide together what fits a person's needs and preferences. This is a collaborative process that may combine different methods as therapy unfolds. Session arrangements should be confirmed before booking, as the biography does not list specific formats. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy week, reduce travel time and allow shorter check-ins when needed. It can also make it simpler to keep continuity when life circumstances change, while the therapist and client explore what works best for them both.