Maria Prieto, BACP

Maria Prieto is a counsellor registered with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). She has nine years of practice supporting people through stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, grief and depression. Maria also helps people facing major life changes and those trying to make sense of painful past events.

Maria uses straightforward, person-focused work in sessions. She aims to build an open space where clients can speak without feeling judged. Conversations are paced to the person’s comfort, with practical steps worked out together.

Across sessions Maria helps people notice patterns that keep them stuck and tries small, manageable changes. She offers calm listening and helps clients find ways to cope with intense emotions. For some that means planning daily routines; for others it means practising gentle self-compassion techniques.

Maria also addresses related concerns such as communication problems, dissociation, domestic violence, guilt and shame, life purpose, issues affecting veterans and armed forces, self-love, and sexual assault and abuse. Her approach adapts to the issue brought to the room and to each person’s needs.

Sessions are offered in English and Spanish. Maria works from the United Kingdom and accepts international clients. To begin, people complete a short matching questionnaire and then schedule sessions based on her availability.

Therapeutic approaches and online support

Maria works with evidence-based techniques aimed at calming distress and helping people make manageable changes. One common approach focuses on practical coping skills - learning small strategies to reduce anxiety and handle difficult feelings in daily life. Another approach centres on trauma-informed listening and paced processing, helping people tell and reframe painful memories at a rate they can manage.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. Maria will collaborate with each person to choose methods that match their needs, goals and preferences. That means trying things out together and adjusting the plan if something does not fit.

If you are considering online sessions, confirm the current session options before booking. Many people find online work helpful because it makes fitting therapy into a busy week easier. Online sessions can reduce travel time, allow shorter check-ins during a break, and let someone choose whether to use video or audio depending on how they feel. Registered or accredited professionals, including therapists on the platform, can discuss which approach and format will best suit your situation when you begin the matching process.