Mary Prime, BACP

Mary Prime is a counsellor based in Milton Keynes, United Kingdom, with eight years of professional experience supporting people through a wide range of life challenges. She trained initially in person-centred counselling and qualified in 2018, later completing a higher level diploma that broadened her therapeutic toolkit and allows her to integrate multiple approaches to suit each client. Mary has worked in NHS talking therapies as a Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner and currently works as a Social Prescriber within Community Mental Health Teams, bringing practical experience of both statutory and community settings.

Mary prioritizes meeting clients where they are, exploring how different parts of life - including physical health, relationships, work and daily routines - intersect with emotional wellbeing. She has supported many hundreds of people with common mental health difficulties such as anxiety, stress, low mood and depression, and with complex situations including thoughts of self-harm or suicide. She also works with relationship issues, life transitions such as starting or leaving university, and grief following loss.

A particular area of specialist interest is chronic pain and long-term health conditions. With 16 years of lived experience of chronic pain, Mary offers empathy and practical focus on adapting routines and managing the impact of illness alongside life commitments. She has also supported unpaid carers and people navigating the stresses of caregiving.

Mary has lived experience of neurodiversity, with later-in-life diagnoses of Autism, ADHD and dyslexia, and this informs a neurodiversity-aware approach to therapy. She has worked predominantly online since the global COVID-19 pandemic and offers evening and weekend appointments to improve accessibility. Mary is training to become a health coach and can integrate coaching elements when relevant. She is a member of the BACP (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy), which reflects her professional commitment and standards.

Online therapeutic approaches and accessible care

Client-Centered Therapy places the client at the heart of the process, offering a warm, non-directive space where the therapist listens deeply and follows the client’s pace. This approach is helpful for people seeking understanding, emotional support, and a stronger sense of self during times of change or distress.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying unhelpful thinking and behaviour patterns and developing practical strategies to shift them. CBT is useful for managing anxiety, depression, stress and problems that respond well to structured techniques and goal-oriented work.

Mindfulness Therapy teaches present-moment awareness and gentle acceptance, often using simple practices to reduce reactivity and improve coping with difficult thoughts and sensations. It can support stress management, emotional regulation and living with long-term health conditions.

Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. Mary works with clients to understand their needs, goals and preferences and adapts methods to find the best fit over time, combining counselling and coaching elements where appropriate.

Online therapy offers practical flexibility - sessions can take place by video call, phone, live chat or text-based messaging to suit different schedules and comfort levels. These options make it easier to access regular support around work, caregiving or mobility constraints while maintaining continuity of care with licensed professionals and therapists.