Dr. Mary “Em” Ryan, BACP
Experienced narrative counsellor for life change
Details
| Name | Dr. Mary “Em” Ryan |
|---|---|
| Credentials | BACP |
| Based in | United Kingdom |
| Registered with | BACP |
| Session format | Online |
| Languages | English, Spanish, French |
| Years in practice | 23 |
About Mary
Dr. Mary “Em” Ryan welcomes people who are feeling overwhelmed by stress, anxiety, depression or difficult life changes. She presents herself as calm and approachable and aims to make the first steps into therapy less daunting.
Sessions are offered in English, Spanish and French to suit different needs. She uses Narrative therapy alongside Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and client-centred approaches to help people tell their story in new ways. Conversations focus on what matters most to the client, and on small, practical steps they can try between sessions.
Background and approach
The work is collaborative and paced to the client’s needs. With 23 years of experience, she has supported people through relationship strain, grief, addiction concerns, trauma and problems with sleep and self-esteem. She also helps with parenting stresses, career questions and compassion fatigue for those in caring roles.
Her background includes work across a variety of settings in the United Kingdom. Sessions aim to create a non-judgemental space where thoughts and feelings can be talked about openly. The counsellor listens for the patterns that shape someone’s day-to-day life and looks for opportunities to try different responses.
Practical tools from cognitive behavioural and dialectical approaches are used when helpful. Dr Ryan uses a straightforward approach to planning therapy and reviews progress with clients regularly. She encourages people to bring specific concerns such as ADHD-related struggles, intimacy issues or questions about gender dysphoria, and to set goals that feel meaningful to them.
What this therapist works with
Her listing names Stress, Anxiety, LGBT, Relationship issues among the things Mary works with, alongside the areas below.
- Stress, Anxiety
- LGBT
- Relationship issues
- Grief
- Depression
- Addictions
- Family conflicts
- Trauma and abuse
- Intimacy-related issues
- Sleeping disorders
- Parenting issues
- Anger management
- Self esteem
- Career difficulties
- Coping with life changes
- Coaching
- Compassion fatigue
- ADHD
- Abandonment
- Adoption and foster care
- Aging and geriatric issues
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Communication problems
- Coping with natural or human-caused disaster
- Divorce and separation
- Domestic violence
- Family problems
- First responder issues
- Forgiveness
- Gender dysphoria
- Hospice and end-of-life counseling
- Isolation / loneliness
- Life purpose
- Midlife crisis
- Multicultural concerns
- Narcissism
- Post-traumatic stress
- Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
- Self-love
- Traumatic brain injury
- Women's issues
- Workplace issues
- Young adult issues
Approaches listed
- Narrative Therapy: Named in her listing among her approaches.
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT): Listed by Mary among the ways she works.
- Client-Centered Therapy: Listed by Mary among the ways she works.
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Listed by Mary among the ways she works.
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): Listed by Mary among the ways she works.
- Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT): Listed by Mary among the ways she works.
- Existential Therapy: Listed by Mary among the ways she works.
- Mindfulness Therapy: Listed by Mary among the ways she works.
- Solution-Focused Therapy: Listed by Mary among the ways she works.
- Trauma-Focused Therapy: Listed by Mary among the ways she works.
- Training stated: This directory copies the approaches a therapist names and does not check training records. Ask Mary directly how much of the work is narrative and what a session usually looks like.
Narrative Therapy in this listing
Narrative Therapy appears in this therapist's own list of approaches. That tells you it is part of how she works. It does not tell you how much of a session it shapes, and this directory does not check or rate training.
If a narrative approach is what you are looking for, it is worth asking Mary directly how she uses it and what a session usually looks like.
Online session options
Working with narrative and action-focused approaches online
The counsellor uses Narrative therapy to help people separate themselves from problems and to re-author their life stories in ways that feel less limiting. Narrative work can be useful for issues such as identity questions, isolation and repeated relationship patterns.She also draws on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, which encourages noticing difficult thoughts and feelings while committing to actions that reflect personal values. ACT can be helpful for anxiety, depression and coping with life changes. Client-centred work underpins both approaches by keeping the client's perspective central and by offering empathic listening.
Finding the right approach is a joint process. The counsellor will talk with clients about their needs, goals and preferences and will suggest methods to try. Sessions are flexible and can be adjusted as progress is reviewed so that the work stays relevant and practical.
Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat and text-based messaging. Video calls suit in-depth conversation and visual cues. Phone sessions work well when bandwidth is limited or a shorter check-in is needed. Live chat and text messaging offer a way to reflect between sessions and to fit support around busy schedules. These options make it easier to access therapy from different places and at different times.
Common questions about this listing
What kinds of problems can be discussed in sessions?
She supports people with a wide range of concerns including stress, anxiety, depression, grief, addiction, relationship strain, sleep problems and self-esteem issues.
How would you describe the therapeutic style?
The style is conversational and collaborative, drawing on Narrative work, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and client-centred listening to help clients reframe stories and try new responses.
How long has the counsellor been practising?
She brings 23 years of professional experience working in the United Kingdom across varied settings.
What credentials and where is the counsellor based?
She is registered with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and practices from the United Kingdom.
Which languages are supported in sessions?
Sessions are offered in English, Spanish and French to accommodate different language needs.
What formats are available for sessions?
Sessions can take place via video calls, phone sessions, live chat or text-based messaging to give flexible ways to connect.
How does payment and cost work?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions are provided through a subscription model that can be cancelled at any time.
What should I do to begin working together?
To start, select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions according to the therapist's availability.
Contacting this therapist
Sessions with Mary are arranged through our partner platform. It asks a few questions about what you are looking for, then shows you the therapists available to you, including Mary where she has space. Ask about fees, and whether she holds a licence or registration where you live.
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