Margaret "Maggie" Barrington, AASW

Margaret "Maggie" Barrington is an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker (AASW) with more than 25 years of therapeutic counselling experience. She has supported people through stress and anxiety, grief, trauma and abuse, disability-related adjustments, carer strain and the uncertainty that accompanies major life changes. Her work emphasises practical, evidence-based strategies that clients can use day to day and maintain over the long term.

Margaret's style is warm and down-to-earth, focused on helping people regain clarity and confidence rather than suggesting something is wrong with them. She treats each person as the expert in their own life and aims to create a respectful, understanding space in which people feel able to explore options and make sustainable changes. Her practice also addresses self-esteem, compassion fatigue and a wide range of related concerns including ageing and geriatric issues, caregiver stress, chronic illness and end-of-life matters.

Taking the first step can feel difficult, and Margaret recognises that reaching out is itself a sign of readiness for change. She works collaboratively to help people build coping skills, find direction and move toward a healthier, more balanced future.

Evidence-based approaches for online support

Margaret offers practical, evidence-based techniques online that aim to build coping skills and increase day-to-day resilience. One approach focuses on skills-based coping strategies for stress and anxiety - teaching practical tools to manage overwhelming thoughts, reduce physiological tension and restore routine functioning. This work is suited to people dealing with chronic worry, work-related stress and life transitions.

A trauma-informed approach is used when addressing trauma and abuse, grief and related distress. This involves pacing, stabilisation strategies and an emphasis on safety and emotional regulation so that people can process difficult experiences at a pace that suits them. It is appropriate for those recovering from past harm or navigating ongoing effects of trauma.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process. Margaret works collaboratively with each person to identify the techniques and pace that best match their needs, goals and preferences, adjusting the focus as progress is made.

Online sessions are available by video call, phone, live chat or text-based messaging, offering flexibility to fit around work, carer responsibilities and mobility needs. These options make it easier to access a therapist from home or another convenient location while maintaining continuity of care and regular contact.