Maria Halliley

On line on a Tuesday from 11.00am . Last appointment 8.00pm.

I work with individual adults, couples and young people aged 13 and above.

Sessions are generally weekly and at the same time each week.

I have some flexibility if on occasion you cannot make your Tuesday appointment and for the free 20 minute conversation. 

I am a highly qualified Relate trained integrative therapist. I have 20 years experience of working with individuals, couples, families, young people and children, both face to face and on line. I am experienced in working with couples where one or both partners are neurodiverse. In addition to this I have worked as a school counsellor in both primary and secondary schools within Cambridge.

For me the most important aspect of my counselling approach is the forging of a strong compassionate relationship with my clients. You must feel understood,supported,respected and safe enough to work in partnership with me so as to explore your thoughts and feelings without fear of judgement while working towards your goals.

This 'therapeutic alliance' takes time to fully evolve, but from the outset it is important that you feel comfortable talking to me. To this end I offer a free 20 minute conversation by telephone or on zoom to help you decide whether you want to come for an initial assessment where we can get to know each other better.

Depending on the age of the young person I will always have a conversation with the parents first.

Issues that are often brought to me include:-

communication difficulties, recurring disagreements that never get resolved, loss of intimacy, family problems, anxiety and depression, friendship problems, self esteem, trust issues, affairs, life changes and transitions, bereavement and loss, and neurodiversity.

I am fully insured and registered with the OCR for data protection.

Through our work together you will gain a deeper understanding of yourself and begin to recognise any unhelpful patterns of thinking or behaviour. Some people come to counselling for personal growth rather than a specific issue in their lives.

Couples will gain a deeper understanding of both themselves and each other. Problems, misunderstandings, trust issues etc can be explored and addressed along with unhelpful patterns of relating. We work together at your own pace and there is no pressure to talk about things you may not want to talk about.

My client work draws on several theoretical models, primarily Psychodynamic, Attachment., Systemic and Solution focussed, although I do dip into other therapy models.

Psychodynamic theory  addresses the underlying cause of distress through the exploration of hidden feelings and memories from the past that are having an impact on our actions today.  

Systemic theory is based on the idea that people are interconnected. By exploring the interactional patterns between yourself and those you care for, we can disrupt negative cycles and encourage new, more supportive interactions.

Attachment theory explores the way you respond emotionally in certain situations, especially romantic situations, and what coping mechanisms you use. We work together to identify and change any unhealthy internalised relationship templates.

Solution Focussed therapy explores the strengths and resources you already have, It concentrates on what is going well and looks for solutions to problems rather than causes of problems. It is especially useful when working with young people.

By using a combination of these theories I can tailor the work to what best suits you as an individual, couple or young person.

If attending as a couple I often decide to have an individual session with you both as well as the couple session.

Depending on the age of the young person, the first session will be with the parents.

The initial assessment for couples costs £65. Ongoing sessions are £70

The initial assessment for adult individuals and young people costs £60 . Ongoing sessions are £65