Sharmaine O'Keefe

Sharmaine O’Keefe commends anyone who takes the step to make positive changes in their life and recognises how daunting it can feel to open up to someone new. She aims to create a sense of safety and trust so people feel heard and understood, believing that having dedicated time and space with a trained therapist can make a meaningful difference.

She is a Masters-level qualified counsellor and a registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy. Sharmaine is qualified to counsel clients of all ages and has experience supporting people with a wide range of complex and varied concerns, including stress and anxiety, family conflicts, parenting issues, depression, trauma and PTSD, grief, narcissistic abuse, eating disorders, study stress, learning difficulties, work-related issues and coping with life changes.

Her practice is integrative, drawing on several counselling theories because each person is unique and no single approach fits everyone. She works with a holistic mix of models, most often using Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Solution Focused Therapy (SFT) and mindfulness techniques.

Sharmaine has four years of counselling experience across private practice, senior school settings and charities. Before training as a therapist she worked as a lawyer, teacher and lecturer, roles that have added useful skills to her therapeutic work. Having lived and worked in several countries, she has developed an awareness of the needs of people from diverse cultural and social backgrounds.

She strives to offer a warm and safe environment where thoughts and feelings can be shared without fear of judgment. Her approach is guided by empathy and kindness, with the aim of helping clients find hope, reach goals and enhance the meaning and value of their lives.