Individual Therapy
Counselling & Psychotherapy for Individuals
A confidential, unhurried space to explore what is troubling you — with a therapist who will meet you exactly where you are, without judgement.
A space that is entirely yours
Individual therapy offers something rare: an hour that belongs completely to you. No agenda other than your own. No need to manage how you come across, or to protect someone else's feelings. Just the chance to be honest — with yourself, and with someone who is genuinely listening.
People come to therapy for all kinds of reasons. Anxiety, depression, burnout, relationship difficulties, grief, low self-esteem, work stress — these are among the most common reasons people seek support, and they are all things I work with every day. Sometimes there is a specific event that has brought things to a head. Sometimes it is a quieter, more persistent sense that something is not right. Both are valid. You do not need to be in crisis to deserve support.
I work integratively, drawing on person-centred, psychodynamic, and attachment-based approaches — adapting to what is most useful for you rather than following a fixed model. Alongside this broad general practice, I have developed particular depth of experience with neurodivergent clients and with LGBTQ+ individuals, and I bring that specialist understanding into every session where it is relevant.
"You do not need to have the right words, or to know exactly what is wrong. You just need to show up. We can find the words together."
— Maria Hartshorn, Resonance Counselling
Is This Right for You?
Individual therapy may be a good fit if any of the following resonate:
- You are struggling with anxiety, low mood, or depression and want more than just coping strategies
- You are going through a difficult life transition — bereavement, divorce, redundancy, or a new diagnosis
- You feel overwhelmed, burnt out, or like you are running on empty
- You have a sense that something is not right but struggle to put it into words
- You feel disconnected from yourself or from the people around you
- Stress at work or at home has become hard to manage
- You have been told you are "too sensitive" or "too much"
- You are neurodivergent and want a therapist who genuinely understands that
- You are LGBTQ+ and want an affirming, non-judgmental space
- You have tried therapy before and it did not quite fit
- You want to understand yourself more deeply, not just manage symptoms
- You are functioning well on the outside but struggling on the inside
What We Can Work On
I work with the full range of everyday difficulties that bring people to therapy — not just specialist presentations. Common areas include:
Anxiety & worry
Persistent worry, panic attacks, social anxiety, or a constant sense of dread. We explore what is driving these feelings — not just how to manage them.
Depression & low mood
Flatness, emptiness, loss of motivation, or a heaviness that will not lift. Therapy can help you understand what is underneath and find a way through.
Grief & loss
Bereavement, the end of a relationship, loss of identity, or the grief that comes with a diagnosis. All loss deserves space.
Burnout & exhaustion
When you have been running on empty for too long. We look at what has led here and what a more sustainable way of living might look like for you.
Trauma & difficult experiences
Past experiences that still shape the present. We work at a pace that feels safe, with care for how trauma lives in the body as well as the mind.
Work & life stress
Pressure at work, difficult relationships with colleagues, redundancy, or the strain of juggling too many demands. Stress is real and it deserves attention.
Relationship difficulties
Patterns that keep repeating, difficulty trusting others, loneliness, or conflict in close relationships. We explore what gets in the way of connection.
Self-esteem & identity
Chronic self-criticism, a fractured sense of who you are, or the feeling that you are never quite enough. We work toward a more grounded, compassionate relationship with yourself.
Life transitions
Parenthood, career change, retirement, relocation, relationship endings. Major transitions can unsettle even the most resilient people.
Stress & overwhelm
When everything feels like too much and you cannot see a way forward. Therapy offers space to slow down, make sense of things, and find your footing again.
Neurodivergence & late diagnosis
Processing a late autism or ADHD diagnosis, understanding your neurotype, and unpicking years of masking and self-doubt.
Gender & sexuality
Exploring gender identity, coming out, navigating a world that does not always make space for you. This is an affirming, non-judgmental space.
Specialist Areas
Alongside general individual therapy, I offer specialist support in two areas where I have developed particular depth of experience.
Neurodivergent Individuals
Specialist therapy for autistic, ADHD, and AuDHD people — including those awaiting assessment or self-identified. I understand the particular texture of neurodivergent experience: masking, burnout, late diagnosis, and the complex relationship many neurodivergent people have with their own identity. No diagnosis is required.
Learn about AuDHD therapyLGBTQ+ Individuals
A genuinely affirming space for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, and non-binary people. You will not need to explain or justify your identity to me. We can focus on what has brought you to therapy — whether or not it is connected to your sexuality or gender.
More about my approachHow It Works
Starting therapy can feel like a big step. Here is what to expect.
Free introductory call
A relaxed 15-minute call to ask questions, share a little about what has brought you here, and see if we feel like a good fit. No commitment required.
First session
We meet properly. I hear more about your story, what you are hoping for, and what has and has not worked for you before. We begin to build the relationship.
Ongoing sessions
Regular 50-minute sessions, usually weekly or fortnightly. The pace and focus are led by you. There is no fixed number of sessions — we review as we go.
Ending well
When the time feels right, we end thoughtfully — reviewing what has changed, what you are taking with you, and leaving the door open if you want to return.
Session length
50 minutes
Fee
£85 per session
Available
In-person (Havering) & Online
What Clients Say
"I had tried therapy twice before and never felt like the therapist really got me. With Maria it was different from the first session. She listens in a way that makes you feel genuinely understood — not analysed."
R.T.
Individual counselling
"I came to Maria after my ADHD diagnosis at 38. I had so much to process — grief, relief, anger, confusion. She held all of it with me without rushing me toward any particular conclusion. I am so grateful."
S.M.
Individual counselling, late ADHD diagnosis
"I was functioning fine on the outside — good job, good relationships — but inside I was exhausted and empty. Maria helped me understand why, and slowly things started to shift. I feel like myself again."
K.W.
Individual counselling, burnout
Ready to Take the First Step?
A free 15-minute introductory call is a relaxed, no-pressure way to ask questions and see if we are a good fit. There is no obligation to book further sessions.