Sharmaine O'Keefe, BACP

Sharmaine O'Keefe is a Masters level qualified counsellor practicing in the United Kingdom who supports people facing a wide range of life challenges. She is a registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), which reflects her professional standing within UK counselling standards. Sharmaine is qualified to work with clients of all ages and has developed experience helping with issues such as stress, anxiety, depression, relationship and family difficulties, trauma and abuse, grief, eating and body image concerns, parenting challenges, career pressures, and coping with life changes.

Her practice is integrative, drawing on multiple therapeutic models to suit each person’s unique needs. She commonly uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), solution-focused methods, and mindfulness techniques to help clients build coping strategies, reframe unhelpful patterns, and clarify goals. Over four years she has worked in private practice, senior school settings, and charities, bringing a practical understanding of different environments to her therapeutic work.

Before qualifying as a counsellor, Sharmaine worked as a lawyer, teacher, and lecturer, and she has lived and worked in several countries. Those experiences contribute to a sensitivity towards diverse cultural and social backgrounds. She aims to offer a warm, non-judgmental space where thoughts and feelings can be explored, and she works with empathy to help clients find hope, meet objectives, and enhance the meaning and value of their lives.

Approaches Sharmaine Uses and How Online Therapy Works

Sharmaine commonly integrates Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and mindfulness techniques in her online work. ACT focuses on helping people clarify their values and learn to accept difficult thoughts and feelings while committing to actions that align with what matters to them - it can be useful for stress, anxiety, and life transitions. CBT addresses the links between thoughts, emotions, and behaviours and offers practical strategies to challenge unhelpful thinking and develop new coping skills - it is often used for anxiety, depression, and specific difficulties like panic or phobias. Mindfulness techniques teach present-moment awareness and can reduce reactivity, support emotional regulation, and complement other therapies.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process. Sharmaine, as a registered professional, works collaboratively with each client to determine which methods fit their needs, goals, and personal preferences, and adapts the work over time as progress unfolds.

Online therapy with Sharmaine is offered by video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging. These options increase flexibility and accessibility, making it easier to fit therapy around work, family, and other commitments while maintaining continuity of care even when in-person meetings are not possible.