Maria Palej, BACP, NCPS

Maria Palej is a counsellor with six years of practice and professional registration with BACP and NCPS. She works with people feeling overwhelmed by stress, anxiety, depression or after traumatic experiences. She also helps those wrestling with relationship struggles, addiction or life changes and supports people exploring identity and intimacy concerns.

Maria draws on a blend of person-centred ideas and psychodynamic perspectives to shape sessions around each person. She aims for straightforward conversations that help people feel heard and understood. Sessions focus on what is happening now and how past patterns may be shaping present choices.

Her approach is practical and conversational. Maria helps clients spot unhelpful patterns, try small changes, and reflect on what matters most to them. She will listen for attachment or abandonment issues and gently bring these themes into the work when relevant.

Maria has experience helping with grief, parenting strain, career pressure, sleep and eating difficulties, and compassion fatigue. She also supports people dealing with addiction, bipolar and ADHD-related concerns as part of broader therapy work. She offers therapy in English and Polish.

Beginning therapy with Maria starts with a short introduction and time to describe what brought someone to counselling. That first meeting is an opportunity to ask questions and agree practical arrangements. Prospective clients are invited to use the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions according to availability.

How counselling approaches shape online work

Maria uses client-centred ideas that emphasise being heard and understood. This approach focuses on the client’s perspective, helping people clarify what they want to change and build confidence through empathetic listening.

She also draws on psychodynamic thinking to look at how earlier relationships and experiences may influence current patterns. This can help when someone wants to understand recurring relationship issues, attachment concerns or feelings of abandonment.

Finding the right approach is part of the process. Maria will work with each person to decide which blend of methods fits their goals and preferences. This happens collaboratively, with regular check-ins about progress and what is or isn’t working.

If you are considering online therapy, check the session formats available before booking as none are specified in the biography. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life - they can save travel time, allow shorter check-ins around a workday, or avoid needing to be on camera when that helps concentration. Registered or accredited professionals often find digital work helps clients maintain continuity during life transitions.