G’day, my name is Maria, and I am what is uncommonly known as a 3rd culture kid. In order to understand my accent, it may be helpful to know I was born in England, and grew up in Australia before moving back to England in 2008.

Originally trained as a primary school teacher, I went on to dedicate the next 25 years to home educating my 5 children (now adults). The high value for autonomy, this process cultivated, alongside various voluntary positions that developed my pastoral skills, led me to retrain as a counsellor. I have been a Samaritan and volunteer for Cruse Bereavement Services, where I am a supervisor, listener, and assessor. I live in Manchester, where I see clients face-to-face from a lovely art studio. I have also worked as a therapist for a charity in Southport, counselling children, teens and adults.

I hold an MSc in Contemporary Approaches to Counselling and Psychotherapy, which is a fancy way of saying I am a creative and expressive therapist. Working from a person-centred core, I find ways of collaboratively and relationally meeting my clients where they are. Sometimes that is online, with games such as Minecraft, and other times, when working face-to-face, it is with arts, crafts, and movement.

Often, we have conversations about what might be occurring in a client’s mind, body, life situations, and relationships, and about understanding our threat response, nervous systems, attachment styles, identity, and how to care for ourselves when we are anxious or in burnout. This psychoeducation can be a helpful part of therapy when initiated by the client. I hold an enhanced DBS, a level 3/4 in safeguarding, and am undertaking a second masters in Contemporary Relationship Counselling, which in the future will enable me to work with more than one person at a time.

I bring my lived experience as a multiply neurodivergent person and as a parent of neurodivergent children who love gaming. Although I consider myself a clumsy gamer, I first started playing Minecraft with my kids over twelve years ago as a way of connecting with their interests and world.

Video Games: One of my all-time favourite games is Spiritfarer on Nintendo Switch, where, years later, I am still trying to complete the last challenge.  My most recent games include Dinkum, Wylde Flowers and Colonist on Switch and iPad. 

Hobbies: I love listening to all kinds of audiobooks, trying new creative pursuits, camping, being near water, and I am working my way through the Marvel movies in chronological order.

Pets: At home, we have an elderly King Charles Cavalier Spaniel with one eye called Issy, a gerbil called Morty and three black moggies called Beau, Rue and Little One.