Mary Stanier

My hours are Monday to Friday 10h00 to 19h00. I offer out of hours sessions on Teams and in-person or on Teams on Saturday mornings.

Sometimes life changes without our permission. A redundancy, a bereavement, the end of a relationship, or a life-changing illness can leave us feeling as though the ground has given way. At other times the struggle builds slowly, through anxiety or low mood that has been with us for years, or patterns passed down through generations. Either way, it can feel as if life is happening to us, and we no longer recognise ourselves or the choices we once had.

I work with individuals and couples, and I have particular experience of acute anxiety and depression brought on by traumatic life events, as well as longer-standing anxiety, depression and intergenerational trauma.

My approach is informed by existential philosophy, which means I am interested in you as a whole person and in how you experience your world and the people in it. I won’t offer you ready-made solutions. I will offer you gentleness, respect and curiosity, and a space where we can explore together what your emotional responses might be revealing about you.

I will also, gently, challenge you. I may question assumptions, notice contradictions, and invite you to look at your life from different perspectives. Sometimes we can trap ourselves by closing off possibilities, out of fear or simply because what is familiar feels easier when we’re already overwhelmed. Therapy can help us come to terms with uncertainty and open up to choices we may not have been able to see.

I bring lived experience of several of life’s major challenges. I am a mother and have cared for a parent with dementia. I never assume that my experience is the same as yours, but I believe it allows me to be fully alongside the people I work with. I am a deeply compassionate person, and I am committed to supporting you as you find your own way forward.

Reaching out can be the hardest step. You’re welcome to contact me by phone or email, and I’ll reply within [48 hours]. We can then arrange an initial free 15-minute consultation, so you can ask questions and get a sense of whether you would like to work together. There’s no obligation to continue.

Sessions

Sessions last 50 minutes. When required couples' sessions extend to 75 minutes. We usually meet weekly, on the same day and at the same time, as regularity helps the work to deepen. I offer both short-term and open-ended therapy. We’ll decide together what feels right and review regularly how things are going.

I see clients in person and online via Teams.

Fees

Individual sessions: £100. Couples sessions: £150. I ask for 48 hours’ notice of cancellation; sessions cancelled with less notice are charged in full.

Confidentiality and ethics

What you share with me stays between us, with a few limited exceptions, such as a serious risk of harm to you or others. I’ll explain these clearly when we first meet. I am a registered member of the BACP and UKCP work within its Ethical Framework. I have regular clinical supervision, which supports the quality of my work, and I hold professional indemnity insurance.

What to expect from me

Therapy with me is a collaborative relationship. I won’t tell you what to do, but I will listen carefully, think alongside you and, at times, offer a different perspective. Some sessions may feel difficult; that is often part of the work, and we can talk about it openly. You are always free to go at your own pace.

A first session is a meeting of two people who don’t yet know each other, so it may feel a little different from those that follow. You might feel nervous, unsure where to begin, or surprised by what comes up. All of that is welcome.

There are no questionnaires or forms to fill in. You can start wherever feels right, perhaps with what has brought you here now. As we talk, I may ask about your background and the important people and events in your life, but only as they seem relevant to what you are sharing. I’d rather your story unfold in its own way than fit it into a checklist.

I will do my utmost to bring my whole self to our time together, and to meet you with acceptance and genuine curiosity. I will listen closely, not only to what you say but to what lies beneath it. Towards the end, we’ll have time to reflect on how the session felt and whether you’d like to continue. There’s no pressure to decide there and then.

My hours are Monday to Friday 10h00 to 19h00. I offer out of hours sessions on Teams and in-person or on Teams on Saturday mornings.

Sometimes life changes without our permission. A redundancy, a bereavement, the end of a relationship, or a life-changing illness can leave us feeling as though the ground has given way. At other times the struggle builds slowly, through anxiety or low mood that has been with us for years, or patterns passed down through generations. Either way, it can feel as if life is happening to us, and we no longer recognise ourselves or the choices we once had.

I work with individuals and couples, and I have particular experience of acute anxiety and depression brought on by traumatic life events, as well as longer-standing anxiety, depression and intergenerational trauma.

My approach is informed by existential philosophy, which means I am interested in you as a whole person and in how you experience your world and the people in it. I won’t offer you ready-made solutions. I will offer you gentleness, respect and curiosity, and a space where we can explore together what your emotional responses might be revealing about you.

I will also, gently, challenge you. I may question assumptions, notice contradictions, and invite you to look at your life from different perspectives. Sometimes we can trap ourselves by closing off possibilities, out of fear or simply because what is familiar feels easier when we’re already overwhelmed. Therapy can help us come to terms with uncertainty and open up to choices we may not have been able to see.

I bring lived experience of several of life’s major challenges. I am a mother and have cared for a parent with dementia. I never assume that my experience is the same as yours, but I believe it allows me to be fully alongside the people I work with. I am a deeply compassionate person, and I am committed to supporting you as you find your own way forward.

Getting in touch

Reaching out can be the hardest step. You’re welcome to contact me by phone or email, and I’ll reply within [48 hours]. We can then arrange an initial free 15-minute consultation, so you can ask questions and get a sense of whether you would like to work together. There’s no obligation to continue.

Sessions

Sessions last 50 minutes. When required couples' sessions extend to 75 minutes. We usually meet weekly, on the same day and at the same time, as regularity helps the work to deepen. I offer both short-term and open-ended therapy. We’ll decide together what feels right and review regularly how things are going.

I see clients in person and online via Teams.

Fees

Individual sessions: £100. Couples sessions: £150. I ask for 48 hours’ notice of cancellation; sessions cancelled with less notice are charged in full.

Confidentiality and ethics

What you share with me stays between us, with a few limited exceptions, such as a serious risk of harm to you or others. I’ll explain these clearly when we first meet. I am a registered member of the BACP and UKCP work within its Ethical Framework. I have regular clinical supervision, which supports the quality of my work, and I hold professional indemnity insurance.

What to expect from me

Therapy with me is a collaborative relationship. I won’t tell you what to do, but I will listen carefully, think alongside you and, at times, offer a different perspective. Some sessions may feel difficult; that is often part of the work, and we can talk about it openly. You are always free to go at your own pace.

A first session is a meeting of two people who don’t yet know each other, so it may feel a little different from those that follow. You might feel nervous, unsure where to begin, or surprised by what comes up. All of that is welcome.

There are no questionnaires or forms to fill in. You can start wherever feels right, perhaps with what has brought you here now. As we talk, I may ask about your background and the important people and events in your life, but only as they seem relevant to what you are sharing. I’d rather your story unfold in its own way than fit it into a checklist.

I will do my utmost to bring my whole self to our time together, and to meet you with acceptance and genuine curiosity. I will listen closely, not only to what you say but to what lies beneath it. Towards the end, we’ll have time to reflect on how the session felt and whether you’d like to continue. There’s no pressure to decide there and then.