Counsellor profile
Madeleine Heffernan, BACP
United Kingdom
BACP counsellor - relationships and anxiety
Continue with MadeleineWhere Madeleine stands
- Credentials
- BACP
- Registration
- BACP, United Kingdom / 383790
- Experience
- 8 years
- Languages
- English
- Location
- United Kingdom
About
- Attachment based work
- Cognitive behavioural work
- Emotion-focused methods
About Madeleine
Madeleine Heffernan is a BACP counsellor in the United Kingdom with eight years' experience. She works with people dealing with stress, anxiety, relationship strain, family issues, trauma and abuse, depression, addiction and codependency. Madeleine also supports those facing grief, intimacy concerns, parenting strain and work-related stress.
Her approach mixes several practical methods so people can try what fits. She uses psychodynamic ideas to look at how past experiences shape current patterns. Cognitive behavioural techniques help spot unhelpful thoughts and test different behaviours. Emotionally-Focused elements are used to understand feelings in relationships and improve emotional responses.
Sessions may include listening and talking through life events, noticing patterns, and trying small tasks between meetings. Madeleine sometimes works on developing a kinder inner voice and offers observations to practice outside sessions. The work is collaborative and paced to what each person says they can manage.
She describes her use of psychodynamic and CBT as ways to understand both history and present thinking. Mindfulness exercises and emotion-focused techniques are also part of her toolkit for managing anxiety, grief and relational distress. These methods are applied in clear, everyday language rather than technical descriptions.
Madeleine communicates with clients by short messages during set hours and runs live sessions on specific days. People should check the therapist's listed session options and scheduling details before booking a first meeting.
How sessions work
How her approaches translate to online sessions
Attachment-based work looks at how early relationships shape current patterns. It helps people understand why they find it hard to trust, say no, or feel worthy in relationships. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) focuses on noticing thoughts, testing them and trying different responses. It suits worries, low mood and habits that keep problems going. Emotionally-Focused Therapy helps people name feelings and change how they respond in close relationships. Finding the right mix is part of the process. Madeleine will work with the client to choose approaches that fit the issue, goals and what feels doable. That decision is collaborative and can change as progress is made. The practical benefits of using online sessions include fitting meetings around work or family commitments, having shorter check-ins when needed, and avoiding travel time. The original biography lists live sessions by video, phone or instant messaging and set messaging hours, so confirm those specific session options before booking. Online work can allow people to practise skills in their daily routine and then report back in a next session.Areas of focus
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
8+ years
Listed in
United Kingdom
Languages
English
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Can she help with people-pleasing and codependency?
Yes. She lists codependency and relationship issues among the concerns she works with and uses approaches that address patterns of putting others first.
What is her general therapy style?
She combines psychodynamic, cognitive behavioural and emotion-focused methods and explains things in everyday language. Sessions can include talking, reflecting and short tasks to try between meetings.
How many years has she practised?
She has eight years of experience working with issues such as anxiety, trauma, addiction and family conflict.
What credential does she hold and where does she practise?
She is registered with the BACP and works in the United Kingdom.
Do sessions take place in other languages?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can international clients work with her?
She does not accept international clients at this time.
How much do sessions cost?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription model that can be cancelled at any time.
How do I begin a first session?
Use the See online therapy options button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and then schedule your first session.
Details come from information the counsellor supplied to BetterHelp. A registration can be checked with the body that issued it.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are not safe at home, use the crisis and helpline numbers.