Sharon Belshaw , BACP

Sharon Belshaw is a counsellor who helps people handle stress, anxiety, depression and the impact of trauma. She also supports people facing relationship and intimacy concerns, grief, addictions, sleep and eating problems, career changes and caregiving strain. Sharon lists aging and geriatric issues among her focus areas and works with concerns that come up around midlife and later life transitions.

She draws on a mix of practical methods in sessions. Sharon uses cognitive behavioural approaches to look at thoughts and behaviours, EMDR for trauma-related symptoms, and hypnotherapy where appropriate. She trained in person-centred therapy and keeps learning through continuing professional development.

Sharon has 15 years of experience across different settings including GP practices, educational services, a brain injury centre, corporate environments and the third sector. She has worked as a clinical lead and later as a CEO within an organisation, and has delivered management consultation and coaching in addition to therapy.

Her style is warm and engaging, and she aims to be flexible around clients' life demands such as childcare and caring responsibilities. Sharon has received a Health and Social Care award and has published in a national journal, reflecting her wider contributions to practice and writing.

Sessions follow a collaborative pattern. Clients can expect practical steps to manage symptoms and time to talk through difficult experiences. Sharon uses research and CPD to shape her work and adapts methods to each person’s needs.

How Sharon’s approaches translate to online work

Sharon uses cognitive behavioural techniques to help people identify unhelpful thoughts and try small, manageable changes in day-to-day behaviour. CBT is often used for anxiety, low mood, sleep problems and coping with life changes.

She also uses Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) for trauma-related symptoms, which focuses on reducing the intensity of distressing memories through a structured, step-by-step process. Hypnotherapy is offered as another tool to support relaxation, breaking unwanted habits and accessing different ways of thinking about problems.

Choosing the right approach is part of the work together. Sharon will discuss goals, preferences and what feels most helpful, and then tailor methods to each person rather than using a one-size-fits-all model.

If you are considering online sessions, check the therapist's current session options before booking because formats are not specified in the biography. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy week, reduce travel time, allow shorter check-ins when needed and support people who prefer not to be on camera. Registered or accredited professionals can adapt these methods for remote meetings so the work remains practical and goal-focused.