Shelley Murphy, ACA

Shelley Murphy is an ACA counsellor with 16 years of experience who helps people feeling overwhelmed by stress, anxiety and relationship strain. She meets people where they are and focuses on practical steps that improve day-to-day life. Shelley writes plainly and listens closely so clients feel understood and heard.

Shelley treats a wide range of concerns including anger, low self-esteem, motivation, grief and issues linked to intimacy. She also supports people working through addiction, trauma and family-origin problems. Shelley pays attention to attachment and abandonment wounds that can shape how people behave in relationships.

In sessions she draws on a mix of approaches such as acceptance and commitment therapy, cognitive behavioural therapy and client-centred work. That means conversations include noticing difficult thoughts, trying small experiments and using your values to guide choices. Shelley keeps explanations simple and focuses on skills you can use between sessions.

Her style is collaborative and practical. She encourages clients to name small, achievable goals and to try steps that build confidence. Shelley aims to help people regain a sense of direction after life changes such as separation, career shifts or caregiving strain.

People often come to work on communication problems, commitment worries, body image or codependency patterns. Shelley invites a steady, compassionate pace so people can explore their story and discover workable ways to change.

Approach-driven online therapy and what it looks like

Online sessions often draw on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Attachment-Based Therapy. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people notice difficult thoughts and choose actions based on personal values rather than being driven by fear or avoidance; it works well for anxiety, stress and motivation issues. Attachment-Based Therapy focuses on patterns in close relationships and helps people understand how early bonds influence current trust, intimacy and communication problems.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. Shelley will explore your goals and preferences and test which methods feel most helpful. This is a collaborative process where techniques are adjusted to suit your needs and pace.

The practical benefit of online therapy is that it can fit more easily into a busy life, making it simpler to keep appointments around work, parenting or caregiving. Before booking, confirm which session formats Shelley currently offers, since the biography does not list specific formats. Together you can choose ways of meeting that best suit your schedule and what you want to achieve.