- Client-centred approach
- Practical coping strategies
- Compassionate listening
About Sharmaine
Sharmaine O'Keefe is a counsellor who helps people manage stress, anxiety, parenting pressure, and relationship worries. She also supports those facing grief, trauma and abuse, eating and body image concerns, workplace strain, and life changes. Sharmaine aims to make the room a calm place where people can feel heard and begin to move forward.
She trained to masters level and is a BACP member, which means she works within professional ethical standards. Sharmaine draws on several practical approaches to match each person's needs rather than using a single method for everyone. Sessions focus on clear, manageable steps and honest conversation.
In practice she most often uses Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Solution-Focused techniques and Mindfulness. That mix means work can include identifying unhelpful thinking patterns, noticing values that matter, setting short-term goals, and practising simple mindfulness exercises. Sessions aim to be down-to-earth and relevant to day-to-day life.
Sharmaine has around four years' experience working in private practice, schools and charities. Before qualifying she worked as a lawyer, teacher and lecturer, and those roles inform her practical, organised approach in counselling.
She has lived and worked in several countries and brings awareness of multicultural and family of origin issues into her work. To begin, Sharmaine listens closely, helps set realistic goals, and supports people as they try new ways of coping.
How therapeutic approaches translate to online counselling
Client-Centred Therapy focuses on listening without judgement and helping people find their own answers; it is helpful when someone needs space to talk and be heard while working out next steps. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) encourages noticing thoughts and feelings without fighting them, and then choosing actions that reflect what matters most; it often helps with anxiety, low mood and life changes. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) looks at patterns of thinking and behaviour and uses practical exercises to shift those patterns, which can be useful for panic, phobias, social anxiety and workplace stress.Choosing the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will discuss what feels helpful and try different ways of working together. Decisions are made with the client based on their goals, preferences and what feels manageable in day-to-day life.
The profile does not list specific session formats, so please confirm available options before booking. Online therapy can make it easier to fit counselling into a busy week, reduce travel time and allow for shorter check-ins when needed. It also gives flexibility for quieter surroundings, avoiding camera use if preferred, or scheduling sessions around work or childcare. Registered or accredited professionals can adapt exercises, mindfulness practices and CBT tasks to work in online sessions so therapy can be practical and goal-focused even when not in the same room.
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 kinds of problems does Sharmaine help with?
She supports people with stress, anxiety, parenting issues, self-esteem problems, relationship and family concerns, trauma and grief, eating and body image issues, workplace difficulties and life transitions.
How would you describe her way of working?
Her style is warm and down-to-earth, focusing on being heard and understood while working on practical steps and strategies that fit everyday life.
What experience does she bring to sessions?
Sharmaine has four years of counselling experience in private practice, schools and charities, plus earlier careers as a lawyer, teacher and lecturer that shape her practical approach.
What professional credentials and region apply?
She holds a masters-level counselling qualification and is a member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) in the United Kingdom.
Can sessions be conducted in other languages or from abroad?
Sessions are offered in English and she is not accepting international clients at this time.
What formats are available for sessions?
The original profile does not specify session formats, so please confirm current options before booking to know whether online or in-person sessions are available.
How much do sessions cost?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be cancelled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Use the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions according to the therapist's availability.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger, use the crisis numbers.