Maria Pencheva, BACP

Maria Pencheva is a UK-based therapist with four years of professional experience who supports people navigating stress, anxiety, relationship concerns, trauma and abuse, low self-esteem, and depression. She blends a strengths-focused outlook with clinical methods to help clients regulate emotions, build confidence, and find greater meaning in their lives. Maria holds BACP credentialing - membership in the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy - and draws on a background in counselling and positive psychology to inform her work.

Her approach is grounded in empathy, curiosity, and collaboration. Maria works from person-centered and attachment-based principles while integrating practical methods from cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), emotionally-focused therapy (EFT), Imago relationship therapy, and existential frameworks. This mix allows her to address immediate symptoms like panic, social anxiety, or low mood while also exploring relationship patterns, life purpose, and long-term resilience.

Maria places value on creating an open, respectful space where clients can explore difficult material at their own pace. She has experience with additional focus areas such as body image, communication problems, control issues, divorce and separation, forgiveness, guilt and shame, isolation and loneliness, and post-traumatic stress. Fluent in English and Bulgarian, she is able to work with a diverse range of clients and accepts international referrals. Outside of therapy, Maria's experience as an interpreter, advocate, and business manager contributes to a practical, relatable style that aims to empower clients to make meaningful changes and build a more fulfilling future.