Muriel Tafts, BACP

Muriel Tafts is a counsellor with a BACP registration and four years of post-qualification experience. She trained with a Foundation Degree in Integrated Counselling, which covered person-centred approaches, cognitive behavioural therapy and psychodynamic ideas. Muriel aims to make it straightforward to begin talking about difficult things, including stress, anxiety, relationships and the changes that come in midlife.

She spent two years on placement during training and then four years practising part time after qualifying. Her work has included supporting people facing trauma and abuse, depression or low mood, workplace difficulties and questions about life purpose and money. Her background also includes additional study on the neuroscience of ADHD, autism spectrum conditions, dementia and addiction.

In sessions Muriel creates an open atmosphere where people can share without judgement. She encourages curiosity about thoughts, feelings and behaviour, and looks at patterns that may be keeping someone stuck. Sessions include practical suggestions and information about psychological concepts, with tasks to try between meetings when helpful.

Muriel typically sets clear goals early on and reviews progress regularly, usually every four weeks. She describes counselling as a collaborative process - she walks alongside people while they work towards change. She is also studying for an MSc in Workplace Health and Wellbeing to deepen her understanding of work-related issues.

People who want a calm, reflective counsellor may find her style helpful. The approach suits those who want both exploration of roots and practical steps for coping and change.

How Muriel's approaches can work online

Client-Centred Therapy focuses on listening, empathy and helping people find their own answers. It can help with loneliness, life purpose and relationship worries by making space to reflect. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, or CBT, looks at links between thoughts, feelings and actions and offers practical exercises to reduce anxiety or manage unhelpful habits. Psychodynamic ideas help uncover patterns from earlier life that influence present behaviour and relationships.

Finding the right approach is part of the work together. Muriel will discuss goals, preferences and how a method feels in practice, and then agree what to try first. That makes the process collaborative and adjustable as progress is reviewed over time.

The practical benefits of online therapy include fitting sessions more easily into a busy week and reducing travel time, which helps people keep continuity of care. Online work can also make it simpler to have shorter check-ins when needed or to choose a format that uses less bandwidth. Confirm the current session options before booking so you know which formats are offered and can pick what fits your routine.