Carol Shields

• Stress and anxiety
• Relationships and family
• CBT and ACT methods

About Carol

Carol Shields works with stress, anxiety, relationship and family concerns, and with people facing life changes such as career shifts, grief or parenting pressures. She uses client-centred work alongside cognitive behavioural ideas and mindfulness to help people notice what matters to them and make practical changes. Carol is a member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and has 10 years of professional experience.

She meets people who are trying to manage low mood, bipolar patterns, ADHD difficulties, addictions and anger. She also supports those dealing with trauma and abuse, body image or issues linked to identity and sexuality, including LGBT concerns. Sessions focus on clear, manageable steps rather than long theoretical explanations.

Her style draws on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to help people clarify values and build committed action. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) tools are used to spot and change unhelpful thought and behaviour patterns. Mindfulness exercises are offered to reduce reactivity and improve moment-to-moment coping.

Carol uses a client-centred approach to keep the conversation person-led and practical. She listens for what is most important to the individual and then offers methods that fit their everyday life. Work may include short tasks between sessions and simple behaviour experiments.

People who choose her work with a mix of practical skills and reflective conversation. The emphasis is on clear steps for managing symptoms, improving communication and making decisions about next steps.

How her therapeutic approaches work for online sessions

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people clarify what matters to them and take small steps towards those values; online work can focus on setting practical actions between sessions. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) looks at the link between thoughts, feelings and actions and uses short exercises to test different behaviours and thoughts in daily life. Mindfulness offers simple attention exercises to reduce reactivity and improve concentration during stressful moments.

Choosing the right approach is part of the work together. The counsellor will discuss preferences, goals and what feels doable, and then suggest methods that fit the person’s needs. That collaborative process means approaches can be adjusted as progress becomes clearer.

Session formats are not specified in the biography, so confirm current options before booking. Online sessions can make it easier to fit appointments around work, caregiving or travel, and they can reduce time spent on journeys. Some formats also let people use audio only for a shorter check-in or when video is difficult, while others allow longer face-to-face style conversations when a fuller session is wanted. Registered or accredited professionals including counsellors often find these practical benefits help people keep up with regular work on goals and coping skills.

Topics Carol lists

• Stress and anxiety
• Relationship issues
• Family conflicts
• Self-esteem
• Coping with life changes
• Addictions
• LGBT
• Trauma and abuse
• Grief
• Parenting issues
• Anger management
• Career difficulties
• Bipolar disorder
• Depression
• ADHD
• Abandonment
• Aging and geriatric issues
• Antisocial personality
• Attachment issues
• Autism and Asperger Syndrome
• Avoidant personality
• Blended family issues
• Body image
• Caregiver issues and stress
• Chronic pain, illness, and disability
• Codependency
• Commitment issues
• Communication problems
• Control issues
• Dependent personality
• Dissociation
• Divorce and separation
• Domestic violence
• Drug and alcohol addiction
• Eating and food-related issues
• Emptiness
• Family of origin issues
• Family problems
• Fatherhood issues
• Fertility issues
• Forgiveness
• Guilt and shame
• Impulsivity
• Infidelity
• Intellectual disability
• Isolation and loneliness
• Jealousy
• Life purpose
• Men's issues
• Midlife crisis
• Money and financial issues
• Mood disorders
• Narcissism
• Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD
• Panic disorder and panic attacks
• Paranoia
• Phobias
• Polyamory and non-monogamous relationships
• Post-traumatic stress
• Pregnancy and childbirth
• Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
• Self-harm
• Self-love
• Sexual assault and abuse
• Sexuality
• Social anxiety and phobia
• Women's issues
• Workplace issues
• Young adult issues

Ways of working

• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
• Client-Centred Therapy
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
• Mindfulness Therapy

Questions about Carol

Does she work with anxiety?

Yes. Anxiety and stress are listed areas of focus and are routinely part of her work.

What kind of counselling does she offer?

She practises client-centred counselling and draws on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and mindfulness approaches.

What experience does she have?

She has 10 years of professional experience supporting people with a wide range of concerns.

Is she a member of a professional body and where is she based?

She is a member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and is based in the United Kingdom.

Can I have sessions in a language other than English?

Sessions are offered in English.

Does she work with international clients?

Yes. She accepts international clients.

How much do sessions cost?

Cost varies with location; sessions use a subscription that can be cancelled at any time.

How do I start counselling with her?

Use the Talk to a counsellor online button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.