- Person-centred approach
- Trauma-informed practice
- CBT and mindfulness
About Shirley
Shirley Banton is a BACP counsellor with 11 years of professional experience in the United Kingdom. She focuses on stress, anxiety, relationship and family concerns, trauma and abuse, coping with life changes, addictions, LGBT issues, grief, intimacy-related problems, eating and sleeping difficulties, parenting pressures, anger, self-esteem, career challenges, bipolar and depression, coaching, compassion fatigue and ADHD.
Shirley works from a person-centred base and blends in other therapeutic ideas. Sessions are collaborative and paced to the client. She aims to help people reflect on patterns, rebuild confidence and set clearer boundaries.
She has experience supporting people affected by domestic violence and long-term relational abuse, including coercive control. That background informs her approach to trauma-related work and relational difficulties.
Her time in further and higher education gives her insight into the stresses faced by students and young adults during transitions. She understands pressures around identity, burnout and the search for direction after study or when starting work.
Shirley tends to work well with people who are ready to reflect and engage at their own pace rather than seeking quick fixes. Conversations often focus on understanding emotional patterns, developing practical coping strategies and creating steadier routines.
She offers online therapy. Before booking, people should confirm current session options and practical arrangements using the site’s matching and scheduling tools.
How Shirley’s approaches work online
Client-Centred Therapy focuses on making the conversation about the client’s experience. The therapist listens without directing and helps people clarify what matters most to them. This approach is useful for building confidence and exploring identity, especially during life transitions.Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) looks at the links between thoughts, feelings and behaviours. It uses practical exercises and short-term goals to reduce anxiety, improve sleep, and manage mood. CBT can be helpful for specific problems where changing patterns of thought and action is the focus.
Mindfulness Therapy brings attention to the present moment through simple practices. It supports stress reduction, calmer responses to emotion and better sleep routines. Mindfulness is often combined with other methods to add grounding techniques.
Choosing the right approach is part of the work. Shirley discusses options with each person and decides together which methods suit their goals and preferences. That collaborative process helps shape sessions so they fit the individual’s needs.
Confirm the available session formats before booking, as the biography does not list specific options. Online sessions can make it easier to fit counselling into a work or study day, reduce travel time, and allow shorter check-ins when needed. These practical benefits often help people maintain continuity and make therapy easier to attend.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
11+ years
Listed in
United Kingdom
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of problems does she help with?
She works with a wide range of concerns including stress, anxiety, relationship and family issues, trauma and abuse, grief, addictions and challenges around identity and career.
How would she describe her therapeutic style?
Her style is person-centred and collaborative. She blends approaches like CBT, mindfulness and psychodynamic ideas and works at a pace that suits the client.
How long has she been practising?
She has 11 years of experience working in counselling and related roles.
What qualification does she hold and where is she based?
She is registered with the BACP and practises in the United Kingdom.
Can sessions be conducted in languages other than English?
Sessions are offered in English only.
Does she work with clients outside the UK?
She accepts international clients; confirm any cross-border details before booking.
What is the cost of sessions?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be cancelled at any time.
How do I start a course of sessions?
Use the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session through the site.
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.