Shirley Rocks

Shirley Rocks is a counsellor who helps people navigate stress, anxiety, grief and the fallout of difficult relationships. She welcomes adults who feel stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure how to move forward. Her manner is warm and direct, aimed at making the first steps easier to take.

Shirley draws on four years of practice and a BACP credential, and she trained with the Mid Ulster Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapy and with Cruse Bereavement. That background has given her practical experience supporting people with loss, addiction, sleep problems, low self-confidence and periods of emotional overwhelm.

She works from a compassion-focused stance and adapts the work to each person's needs. Sessions aim to build self-understanding, emotional resilience and kinder self-talk. Shirley also uses writing, including guided poetry and journaling, for people who find it helpful; no prior writing experience is needed.

Her clinical approaches include Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Attachment-Based Therapy, Client-Centred Therapy, Emotionally-Focused Therapy and elements of the Gottman Method. These inform how she helps people with issues such as attachment wounds, boundaries, narcissism-related dynamics and communication problems.

People who meet her describe therapy as a steady space to reflect and practise new ways of relating to themselves and others. Shirley keeps the pace gentle and practical so change can fit into everyday life.

How therapeutic approaches work in online counselling

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people notice unhelpful thoughts and commit to actions that match their values. It can be useful for anxiety, stress and finding clearer life direction. Attachment-Based Therapy focuses on patterns in close relationships and how early bonds shape current trust, closeness and boundaries; it can help with abandonment wounds and attachment issues. Client-Centred Therapy puts the person’s experience at the centre of the work, using empathic listening and reflection to build self-understanding and confidence.

Finding the right approach is part of the process. Shirley will work together with each person to choose methods that match their goals and preferences. That may mean blending approaches, trying guided writing, or focusing on skills practice between sessions so progress carries into everyday life.

Confirm the available session formats before booking. When using online therapy, people often find it easier to fit appointments around work, childcare and travel. Some formats allow shorter check-ins or telephone conversations when speech-only contact is preferable, while video sessions support visual cues for emotion-focused work. Shirley aims to make sessions practical so therapeutic work can sit alongside daily life.