- Focus on coping skills
- Values-based support
- Ten years' experience
About Carol
Carol Shields is a counsellor based in the United Kingdom who helps people facing stress, anxiety, relationship strain, loss and low self-esteem. She supports those dealing with life changes, parenting pressures, addiction concerns, mood difficulties and codependency. Carol approaches people with respect, sensitivity and compassion, and aims to make the first steps towards change feel manageable.
With ten years of experience, Carol blends practical talk with reflective listening. She focuses on what a person wants to change, and works at a pace they can manage. Sessions tend to look at patterns that keep problems going and small steps that build confidence and coping skills.
Her practice uses methods drawn from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy alongside Client-Centred and Mindfulness-based ideas. These approaches are used to help with anxiety, mood shifts, unhelpful thinking and difficulties in relationships.
Carol describes the work as collaborative. She encourages people to name values and realistic goals, then tries out new ways of responding in day-to-day life. She also pays attention to how past experiences, such as abandonment or attachment difficulties, can shape current behaviour.
People may find sessions useful for practical problem-solving as well as emotional support during grief, career change, chronic illness or parenting stress. Carol holds BACP accreditation, and works with people from different backgrounds and life stages.
How her approaches translate to online counselling
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people notice difficult thoughts and feelings while still moving towards what matters to them. It is often used for anxiety, stress and life changes and focuses on values and small, practical steps. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at how thoughts, feelings and actions link together and uses exercises to change unhelpful patterns; it can be helpful for anxiety, low mood and unhelpful behaviours.Finding the right approach is part of the work. Carol will talk with people about their goals and preferences and try out methods that suit their needs. This is a collaborative process where the therapist and client review what helps most and adjust the plan as they go.
The original biography does not specify session formats, so please confirm the exact online options before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit counselling into a busy week, reduce travel time and allow shorter check-ins when needed. It can also make it simpler to access support from different locations and to continue sessions around life events such as moving or work changes. Registered or accredited professionals can help decide whether online sessions match a person’s needs.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
10+ years
Credentials
Listed on profile
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does Carol help with?
She supports people managing stress, anxiety, depression, bipolar difficulties, relationship and family issues, addiction, codependency and trauma-related concerns.
What is her therapeutic style like?
Her style is collaborative and straightforward, combining practical problem-solving with reflective listening and gentle challenge.
How long has she been practising?
She has ten years of professional experience working in counselling and related settings.
What credentials and location are relevant?
Carol holds BACP accreditation and works from the United Kingdom.
Which languages are supported and can international clients join?
Sessions are offered in English, and international clients are accepted.
What session formats are available?
The original profile does not list specific session formats, so please confirm current session options before booking.
How are fees handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist arrangements; sessions use a subscription that can be cancelled at any time.
How do I start working with her?
Use the Start Therapy button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and then schedule according to the therapist's availability.
Profile details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. Credential and registration rules differ between the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia.