Shirley Rocks
Supportive counsellor for emotional change
BACP United Kingdom
- Experience
- 4 years in practice
- Focus areas
- Stress, Anxiety, Family, Trauma and abuse
- Approaches
- Gottman Method, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Languages
- English
About Shirley
Shirley Rocks is a counsellor who helps adults navigate heavy emotions and difficult life changes. She uses a warm, down-to-earth style so people can speak honestly and at their own pace.
Background and approach
Shirley is based in the United Kingdom and holds BACP registration. She came to counselling through training with local organisations and bereavement work, which shaped her work with grief and loss.
Over four years she has supported people dealing with anxiety, depression, addiction, sleeping problems, and periods of emotional overwhelm. She also helps with relationship strain, parenting pressures, and struggles with self-esteem and life purpose.
Shirley’s approach is compassion focused and person-centred. She listens first, then adapts methods to match each person’s needs and goals.
That might mean talking through difficult memories, practising mindful skills, or building clearer communication habits. For some clients Shirley offers journaling and guided poetry exercises.
These writing tools are optional and gentle, designed to help put tricky feelings into words without pressure. Sessions can include elements from attachment work, Emotionally-Focused Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and the Gottman Method where relevant.
Shirley aims to help people understand their patterns, build emotional resilience, and find kinder ways of relating to themselves and others. Her style is calm and practical.
She focuses on small, achievable steps that fit daily life and values. People who want a supportive space to make sense of loss, reduce overwhelm, or change unhelpful habits often find this approach useful.
Approaches that suit online therapy
Shirley commonly draws on the Gottman Method, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Attachment-Based Therapy in online work. The Gottman Method focuses on improving everyday communication and reducing conflict, which helps people build clearer, calmer patterns in relationships. ACT helps people notice difficult thoughts and commit to values-driven actions, often using mindfulness and simple behavioural experiments. Attachment-Based Therapy looks at early patterns of relating and how they show up now, helping people understand emotional needs and form steadier bonds. Finding the right mix of approaches is part of the process. Shirley collaborates with each person to choose what fits their situation, goals, and preferences. Together they try methods, check what helps, and adjust the plan as understanding grows. Online sessions can be video calls, phone appointments, live chat, or text-based messaging. Video calls work well for longer conversations and exercises that use visual cues. Phone sessions can be easier when bandwidth is limited or for short check-ins. Live chat or messaging suits people who prefer writing or need flexible check-ins during a busy day. These options give practical flexibility so therapy can fit around work, family, or travel commitments.Frequently asked questions
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Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
4+ years
Registered with
BACP
Languages
English