Threshold Psychotherapy
Compassionate Therapy for Growth and Living
Compassionate Therapy for Growth and Living
At Threshold Psychotherapy, we offer professional psychotherapy to individuals across the UK. Our practice is founded on a deep respect for the complexity of human experience. We provide a safe, confidential space where all parts of you are welcome — whether they are painful, uncertain, hidden, or just beginning to take shape.
With integrity and openness at the heart of our work, we aim to meet each client with genuine care and thoughtful attention and attunement. Whatever brings you to therapy—whether it’s longstanding patterns, recent difficulties, or a search for clarity — you’ll find a place here where your experience can be spoken, explored, and understood.
Finding a psychotherapist can be a daunting process, especially if you have not spoken with one before. It can take some time to find a therapist who feels like a good fit - each person is different. The following sections explain our process and what to expect at each stage.
Reaching Out
This is the first step, via this website, email, phone or SMS. You can briefly share what’s bringing you to therapy or simply say you'd like to talk. Your prospective therapist will respond within a couple of days and find a mutually agreeable slot for an introductory call.
Please do let us know if there is a particular therapist you are interested in working with.
A short, informal conversation
For the introductory call, we’ll speak by phone for around 15 minutes. This is a chance for us to connect briefly, answer any initial questions, and get a feel for whether working together might be a good fit. There's no pressure or commitment.
If we decide to work together we will send you the welcome documents, which contain our working agreement, ground rules and payment information. We will find a regular time to meet, either online or face-to-face. The initial frequency of our appointments will be agreed at this point.
Beginning to get a sense of things
Our work will enter a period of assessment, which normally lasts for 4-6 appointments. This is a longer conversation where we explore what has brought you to therapy, what you’re hoping for, and how we might be able to help.
Sessions in this period are likely to focus on building a mutual connection, while seeking some sense of your situation, both in the present and in your past.
The main therapeutic work
Regular sessions begin. We work together at a pace that feels manageable and meaningful, exploring thoughts, feelings, patterns, and possibilities. This stage is collaborative, flexible, and tailored to your needs.
Ending well
When the time is right, we’ll plan for an ending together. This might happen naturally over time, or be a more structured piece of work. The aim is to reflect on what’s changed, what’s been learned, and what comes next.
I believe deeply in our capacity for growth and change — whether it's discovering new ways of living, transforming how we relate to others, or reconnecting with our creative, fun side. I believe life is about pursuing vitality while maintaining our capacity for introspection and curiosity. Whatever challenges you are facing, I will meet you with compassion, empathy, and respect. Together, we will form a therapeutic alliance focused on finding meaningful and lasting solutions.
You may be coming with a specific issue — or with a sense of being held back by unhelpful thoughts, painful feelings, or difficult behaviours. Even if life looks ‘fine’ from the outside, it may not feel so good from the inside.
Talking to friends or family can be helpful, but sometimes these relationships are part of what maintains the difficulty — or they simply don’t offer the safety or depth you need to really examine the situation. That’s when it’s time to talk to someone impartial.
I offer a free initial online or phone consultation. You are very welcome to get in touch with a question or to arrange a time to speak.
Before becoming a therapist, I worked on medical and scientific software and carried out academic research in the fields of psychology, robotics, and artificial intelligence.
Online:
– Tuesday evenings: 5pm, 6pm
In person:
– Thursday evenings (Houldsworth Mill, Reddish): 4.30pm – 8.30pm
Maria is a Transactional Analysis therapist-in-training who provides compassionate and insightful counselling for adults online. She offers a warm, calm, and non-judgemental space where clients can explore their challenges at their own pace, using therapeutic principles to understand deep-seated patterns and foster genuine self-awareness.
Her practice is dedicated to supporting both English and Romanian-speaking clients to navigate issues such as anxiety, low self-esteem, burnout, and relationship difficulties. As a Romanian-born therapist and parent living in the UK, Maria brings a profound personal empathy for the complexities of cross-cultural life and identity.
Maria holds a Master’s in Psychology with a focus on Mental Health and Wellbeing. She is a registered member of the UK Association for Transactional Analysis (UKATA) and a Graduate Member of the British Psychological Society (GMBPsS).
To learn more about her online therapy practice or to schedule a consultation, please visit her website:
https://www.onlinetherapywithmaria.com/.