Deirdre MacNamara, BACP

Deirdre MacNamara is a BACP counsellor based in the United Kingdom who helps people manage stress, anxiety, grief and life changes. She offers a calm, respectful presence and aims to meet clients where they are. Her manner is warm and straightforward, focused on practical next steps rather than jargon.

Deirdre draws on several approaches to tailor sessions to each person. She uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy ideas to help people notice difficult thoughts and focus on valued action. She also works from a client-centred stance, offering empathic listening and honesty so people can explore what matters most to them.

Her experience spans community health, education and private practice over five years. That work included supporting people with trauma, first responder stress, depression, eating and anger concerns, and issues linked to ageing, cancer and chronic illness. She has worked alongside multicultural and indigenous groups and takes cultural factors seriously.

In sessions Deirdre aims to balance compassion with practical skills. She uses mindfulness and emotionally-focused ideas to help people notice feelings and build better ways of relating to themselves. She emphasises small, manageable steps towards the goals a person sets.

People who choose her can expect straightforward conversation, gentle challenge and room to reflect on values and life purpose. She supports people as they learn to carry difficult experiences with more ease and to take action that fits their priorities.

How Deirdre's approaches translate to online work

Deirdre commonly draws on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and client-centred ideas. ACT helps people notice painful thoughts and choose small actions that match their values, which can be useful for anxiety, low mood or living with long-term health challenges. Client-centred work focuses on empathic listening, honesty and respect so people can explore difficult feelings and decide what matters to them.

Finding the right approach is a shared process. The therapist will talk with each person about their goals and preferences and adapt methods as therapy progresses. That collaborative stance means the plan can change if something feels unhelpful or a different focus is needed.

Please confirm current session options before booking, as formats are not listed here. Online work can make it easier to fit appointments around everyday life, reduce travel time and allow shorter check-ins when schedules are tight. It can also be useful for people managing chronic illness or caregiving responsibilities who need more flexible sessions. Registered or accredited professionals can offer these benefits while helping clients translate in-person techniques into remote practice.