Sharon McHugh
Client-led counselling for anxiety and trauma
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About Sharon
Sharon McHugh is a counsellor based in the United Kingdom with seven years of experience. She aims to help people heal from anxiety and trauma linked to difficult early life experiences. Sessions are client-led, so the person coming to therapy decides what to bring to each meeting.
Her style is open and empathetic. Sharon offers a non-judgemental space where people can talk freely and take the lead on what they want to work on.
Background and approach
In the first meeting she discusses goals and creates a simple plan together to guide the work. In sessions she asks questions to better understand each person's life and perspective. That helps both of them make sense of patterns and coping strategies that developed earlier in life.
The focus is practical - noticing what causes distress now and finding ways to change it. Sharon has worked in independent practice and in external agencies supporting people with anxiety and trauma who grew up in environments where being themselves felt risky.
She often helps people who struggle with low self-esteem, people-pleasing, feeling disconnected from who they are, and wanting to make changes but not knowing where to start. Her qualifications include a qualification as an Integrative Counsellor to Level 4, a Cognitive Behaviour Therapist at Level 5, and a diploma in Hypnotherapy and Psychotherapy.
She continues professional development through courses to expand her approach and bring more options into the room. Sharon welcomes the chance to work collaboratively and help people take the first steps toward change.
At a glance
- Years practising
- 7
- Registered with
- BACP
- Registration number
- 376880
- Languages
- English
- Approaches include
- Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
- How sessions happen
- Online, by video, phone or messages
Details are as listed on Sharon's public professional profile. You can check any number with the professional body.
What Sharon works with
Everything Sharon lists, in their own terms.
- Stress, Anxiety
- Trauma and abuse
- Grief
- Coping with life changes
- ADHD
- Addictions
- Relationship issues
- Intimacy-related issues
- Sleeping disorders
- Self esteem
- Career difficulties
- Depression
- Compassion fatigue
- Codependency
- Drug and alcohol addiction
- Emptiness
- First responder issues
- Guilt and shame
- Impulsivity
- Life purpose
- Midlife crisis
- Veteran and Armed Forces Issues
- Panic disorder and panic attacks
- Phobias
- Post-traumatic stress
- Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
- Smoking / vaping cessation
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Women's issues
- Workplace issues
- Young adult issues
Approaches Sharon lists
- Client-Centred Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)
- Hypnotherapy
- Solution-Focused Therapy
- Trauma-Focused Therapy
- Internal Family Systems
Listing an approach is not evidence of training in it. This directory copies what each counsellor names and does not check training records.
How Sharon works online
Choosing the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will discuss options and decide together which methods suit the person's needs, aims and preferences. That collaborative process means approaches can be adjusted as therapy progresses.
If you are considering online sessions, please confirm the available session formats before booking as the biography does not list them. Online work can make fitting therapy into everyday life easier by reducing travel time, allowing shorter check-ins between commitments, and offering more flexibility for people juggling work or family. Registered or accredited professionals can adapt practical exercises, homework and skills practice to an online setting so the therapeutic work continues to feel useful and relevant.
Questions and answers
What kinds of issues does Sharon help with?
She helps with stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, grief, coping with life changes, ADHD, addictions, relationship and intimacy-related issues, sleep problems, low self esteem, career concerns, depression and compassion fatigue.
What is Sharon's therapeutic style like?
Her approach is open and empathic. Sessions are client-led and she offers a non-judgemental space where people can talk freely and set their own goals.
How much experience does Sharon have?
She has seven years of counselling experience, working in both independent practice and external agencies supporting people with anxiety and trauma.
What credentials does she hold and where is she based?
Sharon holds BACP accreditation and is based in the United Kingdom.
Which languages are supported for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can I have sessions if I live outside the UK?
International clients are not currently accepted.
How much do sessions cost?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be cancelled at any time.
How do I start working with Sharon?
Select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule according to therapist availability.
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