Maria Lonergan Counselling & Psychotherapy

17/04/2026

I see this play out in my work as a barrister far too often. Women who have survived r**e are expected to put on a brave face in court, be “cooperative,” and in some cases are even told by judges or magistrates to be friendly towards the very man who r**ed them, completely disregarding the profound and lasting trauma that contact can cause. The system demands emotional labour from victims while minimising the violence they have experienced.

A mother can face serious consequences, even prison, for not facilitating contact, yet if a father fails to turn up, there is often little to no consequence. Responsibility is enforced on her, but treated as optional for him.

This is exactly why I set up Proudmans, family law firm, to challenge these systemic failures, to centre the lived realities of , and to push back against a culture in that too often silences and re-traumatises victims instead of protecting them.

24/03/2026

28/02/2026

Not all counsellors are created equal – and choosing the right one matters more than you think.

The right counsellor will not only have the right qualifications, but will also create a space where you feel safe, heard, and genuinely supported. Therapy should feel collaborative, ethical, and grounded in respect – not rushed, pressured, or one-sided.

If you are considering counselling, save this checklist and use it as a guide. You deserve support that feels safe, empowering, and aligned with your needs. 💓

23/02/2026

🚨ACTION AGAINST CHILD REMOVAL CAMPAIGN

In November 2025, Natalie Page (Survivor Family Network), and Dr Charlotte Proudman (Right2Equality) launched the Action Against Child Removal Campaign in Parliament. At this event, we published findings from our small-scale survey, which revealed:

🚩217 mothers had 342 children removed from their care.
🚩96.8% of these mothers had raised allegations of abuse during proceedings.
🚩81% were accused of failing to facilitate the child’s relationship with the father.
🚩In 45.6% of cases, no fact‑finding hearing was held on the abuse allegations.

Read more here 👇

https://righttoequality.org/re-y-experts-and-alienating-behaviour-the-modern-approach-2026-ewfc-28-fam/

15/02/2026

Please do Clare’s Law before starting a relationship. It could be a matter of life or death.

21/12/2025

Narcissists at home vs narcissist in public

17/11/2025

For far too long no one's answered the question:
How many children have been forcibly removed from their mothers due to PA allegations?
Jess Asato MP backs our call for a parliamentary audit.
We need answers
👇

30/10/2025

29/10/2025

Judge describes earlier decision in case at family court as a ‘wrong turn’ and says allegations go to heart of case

28/10/2025

The cost of leaving an abuser is huge - possibly even incalculable when you factor in all impacts.
Now its £318 less than it was yesterday to keep your details private from an abuser, which is good news.
Sarah Sackman KC MP, announcing the fee scrap said
"Battling debt is hard enough. No one should also fear an abuser because they can’t afford protection. From November, we’re scrapping the £318 fee to keep your details private following debt insolvency if you're at risk of violence because safety should never come with a price tag".

01/09/2025

🚨 Nationwide Emergency Alert Test🚨

This Sunday 7th September 3pm.

The UK’s new emergency alert system will send a loud siren, message, and vibration to every compatible phone even on silent. Survivors of abuse with hidden phones could be put at risk if the device is discovered.

You can opt out in your phone’s settings to protect your safety.
✅ iPhone: Search “Emergency Alerts” in settings → Turn off Severe & Emergency alerts
✅ Android: Search “Emergency Alerts” in settings → Turn off Severe & Emergency alerts (and other threat categories if listed)