Sharon McHugh, BACP

Sharon McHugh is a United Kingdom based counsellor who specialises in supporting people to heal from anxiety and trauma rooted in difficult childhoods, teenage years, or early adulthood. She focuses on helping clients understand how early experiences shaped their coping strategies and sense of self, and she works collaboratively to explore steps toward greater wellbeing and personal growth.

Sessions with Sharon are led by the client and designed to provide an open, non-judgemental environment where individuals can bring whatever they need to discuss. In initial meetings she clarifies goals and builds a practical plan, and during subsequent sessions she asks thoughtful questions to help clients make sense of their experience from their own perspective. Her approach is empathetic and client-centred, aiming to support clients as they identify unhelpful patterns such as low self-esteem, people-pleasing, or a sense of not knowing who they are.

Sharon has worked in both private practice and external agencies, supporting people with anxiety, trauma, grief, relationship and intimacy issues, addiction, ADHD, career concerns, depression, compassion fatigue, and other life changes. She is qualified as an Integrative Counsellor at Level 4 - trained to draw on multiple therapeutic methods - and has advanced training in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy at Level 5 along with a diploma in Hypnotherapy and Psychotherapy. She also holds membership with the BACP and regularly undertakes continuing professional development in line with those guidelines. She looks forward to working with new clients to begin the journey of healing and change.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Sessions with Sharon McHugh

Sharon uses Client-Centred Therapy to place the client at the heart of the work - the therapist follows the client’s lead, offering empathy and acceptance while the person explores their thoughts and feelings. This approach can be especially helpful for rebuilding self-esteem and clarifying personal values after difficult early experiences.

She also draws on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), a practical, skills-based method that helps people identify and change unhelpful thinking and behaviour patterns. CBT is commonly used for anxiety, panic, depression, sleep difficulties, and stress, and it often includes exercises and strategies to practice between sessions.

In addition, Sharon’s training in hypnotherapy offers a complementary option that uses guided relaxation and focused attention to explore underlying patterns and support change in habits or emotional responses. Clients and therapist discuss whether this approach may be suitable for their goals.

Choosing the right approach is part of the collaborative process. Sharon works with each person to assess needs, preferences, and goals, and together they decide which methods to prioritise and how to adapt them over time.

Online work is offered via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging, giving flexibility to fit therapy around work, family, and location. These formats make it easier to access regular support, maintain continuity between sessions, and use different communication styles to match what feels most helpful for the individual.