Madeleine Heffernan , BACP

Madeleine Heffernan is a licensed therapist based in Cambridge, United Kingdom, bringing eight years of clinical experience to her work. She adapts her approach to meet each person's needs, combining talking, reflective exploration, and practical exercises so therapy fits the individual rather than forcing a single method. Madeleine is registered with the BACP - the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy - which indicates professional membership and adherence to recognised standards of practice.

Her practice draws on psychodynamic psychotherapy to explore how past experiences shape current patterns, and on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy to identify and shift unhelpful thoughts and behaviours. She also uses a Compassion Focused stance to nurture self-kindness, and sometimes employs Emotional Freedom Technique - commonly known as tapping - as an optional tool. Madeleine has supported people dealing with stress and anxiety, relationship difficulties, family conflict, and the effects of trauma and abuse.

Madeleine works from the premise that clients are the experts on their own lives and already possess strengths that can fuel change. Therapy may include attentive listening, exploration of inner experience and life story, insight linked to psychodynamic and CBT ideas, and suggested tasks or observations to try between sessions if the client chooses. She supports development of a more compassionate inner dialogue alongside other tailored techniques. Madeleine responds to messages daily between 08.30 and 20.30, offers up to an hour of messaging per week, and holds live sessions on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays between 08.00 and 18.00 by video, phone, or instant messaging.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Support

Madeleine draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help clients identify and change unhelpful thought patterns and behaviours; this approach is practical and often useful for anxiety, low mood, and day-to-day coping challenges. She also uses psychodynamic therapy to explore how past relationships and experiences influence present feelings and reactions, offering a way to understand recurring patterns and their emotional roots. Attachment-based ideas inform her work with relationships and family concerns, focusing on how early attachment styles shape connection, trust, and intimacy.

Finding the right approach is treated as a collaborative process. Madeleine discusses goals, preferences, and what feels most helpful, and together with the client she adapts methods over time to find the best fit for their needs and pace.

Online therapy with Madeleine is offered through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging, which can make scheduling easier around work, family, or mobility needs. These options provide flexibility to access therapeutic support from home and allow clients and licensed professionals to maintain continuity of care even when in-person sessions are impractical.