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Emma Louise Sharkey, BACP

Based in the UK Online sessions

Practical counselling for parenting stress and trauma

Book with Emma
Years in practice
3
Registration
BACP
Languages
English
Focus
Stress, Anxiety
Focus
Relationship issues
Focus
Trauma and abuse
About

About Emma

Emma Louise Sharkey helps people navigate stress, anxiety, relationship strains, trauma and abuse, parenting concerns and low self-esteem. She also supports people coping with depression, addictions and life changes. Emma is based in the United Kingdom and holds BACP registration, with three years of professional experience.

Emma works from the belief that each person knows their own story best. She uses that as the starting point and helps people notice their strengths.

Background and approach

Sessions aim to be practical and down-to-earth so clients can use what they learn between meetings. Her approach blends client-centred listening with focused trauma work. She may draw on EMDR and hypnotherapy when those methods seem useful for processing distressing memories or strong emotions.

The emphasis is on clear, manageable steps rather than jargon-filled explanations. Common issues she supports include grief, sleep and eating concerns, ADHD-related struggles, communication and commitment problems, caregiver stress and substance use difficulties. She also works with people facing adoption or foster-care related issues, abandonment, and the effects of domestic violence.

Emma aims to create a calm, respectful space for people to talk and make changes at their own pace. She encourages realistic goals and offers practical strategies for coping between sessions. Taking the first step is recognised as an achievement, and sessions are paced to suit individual needs.

Focus areas and approaches

What Emma works with

Everything Emma lists, in their own terms. Parenting is the reason this directory exists; the rest shows what else Emma helps people with.

Approaches Emma lists

Listing an approach is not evidence of training in it. This directory copies what each counsellor names and does not check training records.

Online support

How Emma’s approaches translate to online therapy

Client-Centred Therapy puts the person’s own perspective at the centre of sessions. The therapist listens actively and helps shape a plan based on what matters most to the client, making it useful for relationship worries, parenting stress and day-to-day anxiety.

EMDR is a trauma-focused method that can help people process distressing memories. In online work it involves guided attention techniques paired with talking through memories to reduce their intensity over time. It is often chosen for trauma, abuse and intense emotional reactions.

Finding the right approach is part of the work together. Emma will discuss options and try methods that fit the client’s goals and preferences. Decisions are collaborative and can change as progress is made.

Online sessions offer practical flexibility. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation when a fuller connection is helpful. Phone sessions can be quicker and use less bandwidth. Live chat or text messaging can suit short check-ins or people who prefer writing. These formats make it easier to fit therapy around work, parenting duties or travel and help keep continuity when life gets busy.
Questions

Questions people ask about Emma

Which concerns does Emma commonly support?

She works with stress, anxiety, relationship difficulties, trauma and abuse, parenting pressures, low self-esteem, depression, addictions and grief among other issues.

What is her therapeutic style like?

Sessions are client-centred and practical, focusing on the person’s strengths and small, usable steps to manage day-to-day challenges.

How much professional experience does she have?

Emma has three years of professional work experience supporting people with a range of emotional and practical concerns.

What credentials does she hold and where is she based?

She is registered with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and is based in the United Kingdom.

Which languages and international options are offered?

Sessions are offered in English and she accepts international clients.

In what formats are sessions delivered?

Therapy can be conducted via video calls, phone sessions, live chat or text-based messaging to suit different practical needs.

How are sessions paid for and what do costs look like?

Costs vary with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be cancelled at any time.

What are the first steps to begin working together?

Click the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire and then schedule sessions according to the therapist’s availability.

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