Sharon McHugh , BACP

Sharon McHugh specialises in supporting people who are recovering from anxiety and trauma rooted in difficult childhoods, teenage years, or early adulthood. With seven years of counselling experience, she focuses on helping clients heal and grow toward the person they want to become. Her work is client-led, offering a nonjudgmental, empathetic environment where individuals can bring what matters to them and explore thoughts and feelings without pressure.

At the first meeting she discusses goals and collaborates on a plan to guide the therapeutic work. During sessions she asks questions that encourage deeper exploration and help her understand a client's life from their perspective so that patterns and meanings can be made clearer. Her approach blends reflective listening with practical techniques to support emotional processing and change.

Sharon has worked in private practice and with external agencies, supporting people affected by environments where it was difficult to be oneself. Such experiences can lead to low self-esteem, people-pleasing, a sense of not knowing oneself, and coping strategies that no longer serve. Much of her work focuses on helping clients recognise these patterns and find a starting point for change.

Her formal training includes a Level 4 qualification as an Integrative Counsellor - training in combining different therapeutic methods - Level 5 training in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and a diploma in Hypnotherapy and Psychotherapy. She follows the guidelines and ethics of the British Association for Counsellors and Psychotherapists (BACP) and regularly undertakes continuing training to broaden the options she can offer clients.

Therapeutic approaches and online care

Sharon uses client-centered therapy to create sessions that are led by the person attending. This approach focuses on listening, empathy and helping clients explore their own values and goals so they can discover their own solutions and sense of self. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is also a core part of her work - it involves identifying unhelpful thoughts and behaviours and learning practical strategies to reduce anxiety, manage mood, and change patterns that reinforce distress. She also draws on hypnotherapy techniques, which can support relaxation, focus and the exploration of unhelpful habits when combined with therapeutic conversation.

Choosing the right approach is part of the treatment process and is decided collaboratively. Sharon works with clients to identify which methods best match their needs, goals and preferences and may blend elements from different models as appropriate. This shared planning helps ensure the work feels relevant and achievable.

Online therapy offers flexible options including video calls, phone sessions, live chat and text-based messaging. These formats make it easier to fit sessions around work, family and daily life, reduce travel time and allow people to continue therapy from locations that suit them. Licensed professionals can deliver effective therapeutic support through these channels while tailoring pace and contact style to each client's preferences.