- Stress and anxiety
- CBT and ACT methods
- Body image and eating issues
About Sharmaine
Sharmaine O'Keefe is a counsellor registered with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and has four years' experience. She supports adults in the United Kingdom with issues such as stress, anxiety, depression, relationship and family difficulties, parenting concerns, grief, trauma and eating-related problems. Her profile notes an interest in career matters, body image and multicultural concerns as well.
Sharmaine works in a direct, practical way. Sessions focus on talking through what is happening now and trying small changes that can make daily life easier. She draws on client-centred methods so the person in front of her leads the pace and topics. That means listening first, then suggesting techniques that fit the person's needs.
Her approach is integrative rather than fixed to one method. The bio lists Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Solution-Focused Therapy and Mindfulness techniques as the main tools she uses. Sharmaine adapts these to problems like panic attacks, social anxiety, workplace strain and family of origin issues.
Before training as a counsellor she worked as a lawyer, teacher and lecturer. Those roles are noted to influence how she structures sessions and supports practical problem solving around study, work and life transitions. She has also worked in senior school settings and with charities.
Sharmaine's lived experience of several countries is highlighted as informing her awareness of cultural differences. The biography states she sees adults and delivers therapy in English in the UK. To confirm current session formats, readers should check the booking details before they schedule.
How Sharmaine applies therapy approaches online
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people notice unhelpful thoughts and choose actions that reflect their values. It is often used for anxiety, low mood and coping with life changes. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) focuses on patterns of thought and behaviour that keep problems going and offers practical exercises to change them. CBT is commonly used for panic, social anxiety and workplace stress.Finding the right approach is part of the work. Sharmaine's integrative style means she will discuss options with the client and decide together which methods to try based on the person's goals and preferences. That collaborative process may mix ACT, CBT and solution-focused ideas over a few sessions.
Confirm the available session formats before booking, as the biography does not list specific delivery methods. Online sessions can make fitting therapy around study and work easier, allow shorter check-ins when needed and remove travel time. Choosing a format can help with practical needs such as keeping sessions brief during a lunch break or avoiding video when bandwidth is limited. Registered or accredited professionals vary in how they run online work, so check the booking details to see what this therapist currently offers.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
4+ years
Listed in
United Kingdom
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does she support for young adults?
She works with stress, anxiety, depression, relationship and family difficulties, parenting, grief, trauma and eating-related problems among other areas relevant to early adulthood.
How would she describe her therapeutic style?
She uses a client-centred, practical style that listens first and then introduces techniques from CBT, ACT and solution-focused work to address immediate problems.
How much experience does she have?
She has four years of counselling experience working in private practice, senior school settings and with charities.
What credentials and location are listed?
She is a registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and practices in the United Kingdom.
Can she work with people who speak other languages?
Sessions are offered in English.
Does she take international clients?
She is not currently accepting international clients and works with people in the United Kingdom.
How does pricing work for sessions?
Cost varies with location; sessions are provided via a subscription model that can be cancelled at any time.
What are the first steps to begin working together?
Use the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire and schedule a first session.
Online talk therapy through BetterHelp is for adults aged 18 and over and is not emergency care. If you are in danger, use the emergency numbers. Find someone else by name.