Profile / United Kingdom
Sharmaine O'Keefe, BACP
United Kingdom
BACP counsellor - anxiety and family concerns
See online therapy options- CBT focused work
- ACT and mindfulness
- Family of origin issues
About Sharmaine
Sharmaine O'Keefe is a counsellor and a registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) with four years of experience. She works with people facing stress, anxiety, parenting pressures, relationship and family concerns, grief, trauma, and issues around eating or body image. She also supports those dealing with career strain, midlife change and other life transitions.
Sharmaine uses straightforward, practical methods in sessions. She draws mainly on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Solution-Focused Therapy and mindfulness techniques. Sessions usually focus on noticing unhelpful thoughts and habits, testing new ways of responding, and building clearer goals for change.
Her background includes counselling in private practice, senior school settings and charities. Before training as a counsellor she worked as a lawyer, teacher and lecturer. Those roles inform her focus on structure, clear communication and realistic steps people can try between sessions.
Sharmaine has lived and worked in several countries, which informs her awareness of cultural and social differences in how people cope. She works in English and is a member of the BACP. Practical arrangements such as session length, frequency and cost are discussed when enquiring.
People who come to her can expect a direct, collaborative approach. The emphasis is on practical strategies, clearer thinking and steady progress rather than lengthy interpretation. Anyone interested is invited to complete the service's matching questionnaire and schedule a first session.
How her approaches translate to online work
Sharmaine commonly uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy online. CBT focuses on spotting unhelpful thoughts and testing small behaviour changes to reduce anxiety and low mood. ACT emphasises noticing values, accepting difficult feelings and taking steps that matter, which can help with stress, grief and parenting pressures.She also draws on client-centred ideas to listen without rushing and on mindfulness techniques to teach brief practices for attention and calm. Deciding which approach to use is collaborative; the therapist and client review goals, try methods and adjust based on what helps most in day-to-day life.
Practical benefits of remote sessions include fitting appointments around work or family commitments and avoiding travel time. If you want to proceed, confirm the available session formats when booking, since this profile does not specify them. Sessions can be a useful way to practise skills between meetings and to bring real-life examples into discussion, making therapy easier to apply to everyday situations.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
4+ years
Listed in
United Kingdom
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What issues does she help with most often?
She helps people with stress, anxiety, depression, parenting and family concerns, relationship issues, trauma and eating or body image issues.
How does she use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy?
She uses CBT to help notice unhelpful thoughts and patterns, test alternative responses and build practical coping skills between sessions.
What is her professional background?
She has four years of counselling experience and previously worked as a lawyer, teacher and lecturer, which shapes her practical, structured approach.
What credential does she hold and where is she based?
She is a registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and practises in the United Kingdom.
Which languages are sessions offered in?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can international clients work with her?
She is not currently accepting international clients.
How are sessions arranged and what does it cost?
Costs vary with location; sessions use a subscription that can be cancelled at any time. Specific fees are discussed during the booking process.
How do I begin if I want to work with her?
Use the See online therapy options button, complete the short matching questionnaire and then schedule a first session.
Details come from information the counsellor supplied to BetterHelp. A registration can be checked with the body that issued it.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are not safe, use the crisis numbers.