Shirley Banton , BACP

Shirley Banton offers trauma-informed, person-centered therapy that balances gentle support with clear, reflective work. She uses a Person-Centred foundation integrated with transpersonal principles to create a collaborative space where clients set the pace and explore meaning, values, and personal growth. Her approach foregrounds emotional safety while encouraging deeper self-understanding and constructive change.

Shirley has extensive experience supporting survivors of domestic violence and people affected by emotional and relational abuse, including coercive control and long-term relational trauma. She also brings more than 20 years of experience in further and higher education, which shapes her understanding of anxiety, burnout, identity concerns, and the pressures faced by students, educators, and young adults during life transitions.

Her practice is well suited to those who feel overwhelmed, stuck, emotionally exhausted, or disconnected from themselves and who want to recognise unhelpful patterns, rebuild confidence, and develop healthier boundaries. Shirley works best with clients who are open to reflection, curious about themselves, and willing to engage at their own pace rather than seeking quick fixes or directive advice.

She offers online therapy to make support accessible across locations. Shirley holds BACP membership - the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy - which indicates professional affiliation with the UK counselling and psychotherapy field.

Approaches That Guide Online Support

Client-Centered Therapy focuses on empathic listening and creating a non-judgemental space where the client leads the pace and agenda. This approach supports self-exploration, improved self-esteem, and relationship work by prioritising the client’s perspective and personal meaning.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a structured, goal-oriented method that helps identify and change unhelpful thoughts and behaviours. It is often used for anxiety, low mood, and practical coping skills when patterns of thinking or behaviour contribute to distress.

Mindfulness Therapy teaches present-moment awareness and simple attention skills that can reduce reactivity and support emotional regulation. It can be helpful for stress, burnout, and learning ways to respond more calmly to difficult experiences.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process and will be determined collaboratively. Shirley will work with each client to identify which methods best match their needs, goals, and preferences, adapting techniques as the relationship develops.

Online therapy by video call, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging makes it easier to fit therapy into busy lives and across different locations. These options offer flexibility in scheduling, allow clients to access licensed professionals from where they are, and make ongoing support more practical for people balancing work, study, family, or relocation.