Deirdre MacNamara, BACP

Deirdre MacNamara is a BACP counsellor who helps people facing stress, anxiety, trauma, grief and life changes. She also supports those coping with depression, low self-esteem, anger, eating difficulties and compassion fatigue. People concerned about ADHD, ageing issues or caregiver strain may find her practical, person-centred style straightforward to work with.

She works from the idea that our closest relationships and life experiences shape how we feel. Sessions are offered with warmth, respect and a non-judgemental stance. Deirdre aims to create a calm space where people can talk through painful events and everyday pressures at a measured pace.

Her approach draws on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Client-Centred Therapy, Emotionally-Focused Therapy and Mindfulness Therapy. That means she mixes mindful exercises, values-based goals and empathic listening to help people notice difficult feelings and choose workable steps forward. The style is collaborative and gently paced rather than directive.

Deirdre's background includes work in community health, education and private practice across Cheshire West in England. She has experience supporting key workers and first responders and has worked in multicultural settings. This range has informed how she adapts conversations to different life circumstances.

Taking the first step can feel hard, and Deirdre aims to support clients to set realistic goals. She focuses on small, practical changes alongside emotional processing to help people manage day-to-day life and move towards what matters to them.

Approaches that suit online counselling

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on noticing thoughts and choosing actions that align with personal values. It helps when anxiety, low mood or life transitions make it hard to move forward. Client-Centred Therapy centres on empathic listening and genuine, non-judgemental presence to help people feel understood and clearer about next steps. Emotionally-Focused Therapy looks at the emotional patterns in relationships and within oneself to help process intense feelings and build stronger emotional regulation.

Finding the right mix of these approaches is part of the work. The therapist will talk with the client about goals, daily life and what methods feel most useful. They will then try a collaborative path, adjusting methods and pace as needed so the sessions match the person's needs and preferences.

The biography does not list specific online session formats, so please confirm current options before booking. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions around caring responsibilities or work, reduce travel time and allow for shorter check-ins when days are busy. It also lets people use mindful exercises and values work between meetings to support progress in everyday life.