Madeleine Heffernan , BACP

Madeleine Heffernan is a licensed therapist based in Cambridge, United Kingdom, who combines several evidence-informed methods to tailor therapy to each person’s needs. She works collaboratively with individuals and families to address stress, anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, relationship and intimacy issues, addiction, grief, parenting and career transitions, as well as a range of attachment and personality-related concerns. Madeleine holds BACP membership - the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy - which indicates recognised professional standing in the UK.

Her practice draws on psychodynamic ideas to make sense of difficulties in the context of past experiences, and on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy to identify and shift unhelpful thought patterns and behaviours. She also incorporates compassion-focused techniques to strengthen self-kindness, and at times uses Emotional Freedom Technique, known as tapping, as an adjunct tool. Therapy may include attentive listening, exploration of inner experience and life story, development of a more supportive inner dialogue, practical tasks to try between sessions if desired, and observations designed to increase insight and coping skills.

Madeleine believes people are the experts in their own stories and that existing strengths are central to change. She offers a predictable response routine, with messaging monitored between 08:30 and 20:30 daily (up to an hour of messaging per week) and live sessions scheduled on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays between 08:00 and 18:00 by video, phone or instant messaging. Her work is tailored to the individual and adapted as priorities evolve.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Support

Attachment-Based Therapy focuses on the ways early relationships shape current patterns of relating and emotion regulation; it helps people understand and shift attachment-driven responses in close relationships. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a practical, problem-focused approach that helps identify unhelpful thoughts and behaviours and replace them with more helpful strategies - it is often used for anxiety, depression and stress-related problems. Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT) emphasizes understanding and reshaping emotional responses within relationships, supporting greater connection and trust between partners or family members.

Finding the right combination of approaches is part of the therapeutic process. Madeleine works collaboratively with clients to choose and adapt techniques that suit their needs, goals and preferences, reviewing progress and changing course when necessary so therapy remains relevant and focused.

Online therapy offers flexibility to engage by video call, phone, live chat or text-based messaging, which can make it easier to fit sessions around work, family and other commitments. These options allow licensed professionals and therapists to maintain continuity of care, provide timely support, and use a range of communication styles to match what feels most comfortable for each person.