Sharmaine O'Keefe, BACP

Sharmaine O'Keefe is a counsellor who supports people facing stress, anxiety, parenting strains, low self-esteem and midlife changes. She helps with relationship difficulties, grief, trauma and eating and body image concerns. Sharmaine aims to make the first step feel manageable and to give callers time and space to be heard.

She trained to masters level and is a member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, BACP. Sharmaine has four years' experience working in private practice, schools and charities. Before qualifying she worked as a lawyer, teacher and lecturer which she says has shaped her practical approach to counselling.

Her practice is integrative, which means she adapts methods to each person's needs. She commonly uses cognitive behavioural techniques, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and solution-focused methods alongside mindfulness exercises. Sessions tend to focus on realistic, short-term goals and on skills people can use between meetings.

Sharmaine also draws on experience gained from living and working in several countries. That background informs her awareness of multicultural issues and family of origin concerns. She describes her work as warm and non-judgemental and aims to help people build hope and practical steps forward.

Clients can expect a calm, conversational setting where feelings are named and options explored. The emphasis is on collaboration - setting clear goals, practising small changes and reviewing progress together.

Therapeutic approaches you can expect online

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people notice difficult thoughts and feelings without being driven by them, and then focus on actions that match their values. It is often useful for anxiety, low mood and life transitions. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) looks at links between thoughts, feelings and behaviour and teaches practical skills to change unhelpful patterns; it can be effective for panic, social anxiety and depressive thinking. Mindfulness therapy offers simple attention and breathing exercises to reduce stress and increase present-moment awareness which supports coping with everyday pressure.

Finding the right approach is part of the process. The therapist will work with the client to decide which methods fit best for their goals and preferences. That collaborative discussion can shape whether sessions focus on skills practice, values-based planning or short-term problem solving.

Please confirm the current session options before booking, as formats are not specified here. Online work can make it easier to fit counselling into a busy life, allowing shorter check-ins, reduced travel and more flexible scheduling around work or parenting. Registered or accredited professionals can use online sessions to teach exercises, set home practice and review progress in ways that suit everyday routines.