Updated 17/11/2025
In person & Remote therapy, Aztec Centre, Aztec West, Almondsbury, Bristol, BS32 4TD
Stress
In person & Remote therapy, Aztec Centre, Aztec West, Almondsbury, Bristol, BS32 4TD
Stress
I am currently not taking on any new clients at this time
Dr. Maria Thompson
Chartered Psychologist
I am currently not taking on any new clients at this time
What to Expect
Try one session, to see if you feel comfortable with Maria, and decide if therapy may help you.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
CBT focuses on how your thoughts (cognitions) affect your feelings and actions. It recognises and challenges negative thoughts that perpetuate the problems you experience. The objective of cognitive behavioural therapy is for you to experience healthier thoughts and emotions.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) suggests CBT for:
- Depression
- Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
- Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Schizophrenia
- Self Harm
- Binge Eating Disorder (BED)
- Bulimia
- Anorexia
- Social Anxiety Disorder
Counselling
Counselling centres on listening to you, and assisting you. You determine which issue regarding your early years and/or adulthood you discuss. An objective of counselling is to enable you to speak about a difficulty and discover a way forward which is appropriate for you.
NICE suggests counselling for:
- Depression
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)
DBT evaluates your understanding of your thoughts and feelings. It encourages your finding of useful responses to your life. Dialectical behaviour therapy intends to help you enhance and maintain your coping abilities.
NICE suggests DBT for:
- Borderline Personality Disorder
Eye Movement Desensitisation Reprocessing (EMDR)
Eye movement desensitisation reprocessing directs your eye movements to affect how your mind processes data. The technique attempts to reprocess your frozen traumatic memories. The objective of eye movement desensitisation reprocessing is to desensitise your upsetting memories.
NICE suggests EMDR for:
- Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Psychodynamic Therapy
Psychodynamic therapy centres on the unconscious meaning of the issues you encounter. It facilitates you in being aware of parts of your internal dynamics. Psychodynamic therapy seeks to enhance your self-understanding to give you options.
NICE suggests psychodynamic therapy for:
- Self Harm
- Depression
- Anorexia
- Social Anxiety Disorder
Psychology
Psychology is interested in you and your thoughts, emotions and behaviour. It offers you psychological interventions and mental wellbeing support. The objective of psychological therapy is to help you ease symptoms.
Therapy
- Abuse
- Anger
- Bereavement
- Narcissistic Personality
- Relationship Problems
- Self Esteem
- Stress
Private Health Insurance Registrations
- Aviva Health
- AXA PPP Healthcare
- BUPA
- WPA
Language
- English
Qualifications
| Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) Registered Counselling Psychologist Last Check 10/11/2025 | Next Review 10/12/2025 | |
| British Psychological Society (BPS) Chartered Counselling Psychologist Last Check 17/11/2025 | Next Review 17/12/2025 | |
| April 2016 |
Certificate Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) SDS (UK) Verified 12/05/2017 |
| October 2015 |
Certificate Eye Movement Desensitisation Reprocessing (EMDR) EMDR Europe (UK) Verified 12/05/2017 |
| July 2015 |
Certificate Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) University of Reading (UK) Verified 12/05/2017 |
| April 2015 |
Certificate Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) SDS (UK) Verified 18/05/2017 |
| May 2011 |
Certificate Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) Cognitive Workshops (UK) Verified 16/05/2017 |
| December 2010 |
Doctorate Counselling Psychology University of Wolverhampton (UK) Verified 23/04/2014 |
| March 2009 |
Certificate Eye Movement Desensitisation Reprocessing (EMDR) EMDR Europe (UK) Verified 12/05/2017 |
| January 2009 |
Certificate Eye Movement Desensitisation Reprocessing (EMDR) EMDR Europe (UK) Verified 16/05/2017 |
| November 2008 |
Certificate Eye Movement Desensitisation Reprocessing (EMDR) EMDR Europe (UK) Verified 09/05/2017 |
| June 2005 |
Postgraduate Diploma Counselling Psychology with Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) Psychodynamic Therapy University of Wolverhampton (UK) Verified 03/05/2017 |
| September 2004 |
Postgraduate Degree Counselling Psychology University of Wolverhampton (UK) Verified 18/05/2017 |
Maria Thompson is bound by the Code of Ethics and Conduct of the British Psychological Society (BPS) and the Standards of the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).
Fees
Working Hours
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Reviews
Summary
Based on 120 reviews
Easy to talk to: 5
Helpfulness: 5
Value for money: 4.8
5.0
Review of Dialectical Behaviour Therapy for Borderline Personality Disorder
25 September 2019
Easy to talk to: 5
Helpfulness: 5
Value for money: 5
Finding it really useful doing one to one DBT skills with Dr Thompson. Am visually impaired and appreciate her allowing my guide dog to accompany me to sessions and Dr Thompson emailing me reading materials rather than giving me printed copies so I can access them using specialist magnification software. Dr Thompson is easy to talk to but will also challenge my thoughts and behaviour when necessary. A good balance. Finding the funds for sessions has sometimes been hard for me meaning the frequency of my requests for sessions fluctuate and Dr Thompson has been sympathetic and accommodated this. Dr Thompson has helped me set up Skype on my phone. Hoping to use this for our next session so I don’t have to travel to and from the session by public transport - this will help me avoid a lengthy journey and travel costs. I really recommend this Psychologist.
Kath, 36 from Yeovil
5.0
Review of Therapy for Bereavement
25 September 2019
Easy to talk to: 5
Helpfulness: 5
Value for money: 5
Calm, professional, welcoming, down to earth, encouraging. Maria helped me more than I could have envisaged and gave me tools to help myself going forward.
Abbe, 41 from Bristol
5.0
Review of Counselling for Depression
13 September 2019
Easy to talk to: 5
Helpfulness: 5
Value for money: 4
Caring, engaging and understanding.
Mark, 43 from Bristol
5.0
Review of Psychodynamic Therapy for Depression
13 September 2019
Easy to talk to: 5
Helpfulness: 5
Value for money: 5
Maria made our sessions very comfortable, with her humour and genuine interest in my health. It made her easy to talk to, I'm still using her advice now, even though I've been diagnosed as bipolar type 2. I loved Maria. It was a shame travel became an issue.
Tigerlilley-Rose, 22 from Cheltenham Uk
Wheelchair access: Yes