Meet Sarah
A Humanistic Approach To Therapy
Above all, often just by being listened to, we find ways forward that are relevant and meaningful to us. This makes them more likely to work.
Who Am I?
My career began 20 years ago in learning and development roles for various organisations. During this time, I worked closely with managers and leaders and started to notice a few things. Firstly, most things, including our successes and challenges, are about the relationships we create with others. Also, many of the barriers that get in our way are internal, not external.
Above all, often just be being listened to, we find ways forward that are relevant and meaningful to us. This makes them more likely to work.
From time to time I’ve also had my own well-being challenges. At different points I’ve sought the help of therapists. Having someone ‘alongside me’ creates the space and freedom to be how I need to be to gain insights, make choices and move forward.
This is the basis of repair and recovery. It was the experience of being in therapy myself that led to spending three years re-training as a Psychotherapeutic Counsellor. My approach is humanistic and underpinned by psycho-dynamic influences; it holds each client at the heart of the therapeutic experience.
Qualifications & Experience
I have an Advanced Diploma in Psychotherapeutic Counselling (Ad Dip PC) and am an Accredited Registrant of the National Counselling Society (NCS). The NCS is regulated by the Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care (PSA) which promotes the health, safety and wellbeing of patients, service users and the public by raising standards of regulation and voluntary registration of people working in health and care. The NCS is responsible for ensuring that its members continue to meet the high standards set by the PSA. As an Accredited Registrant I am bound by the Society’s Code of Ethics and Complaints Policy.
I hold Professional Civil Liability Insurance, an Enhanced DBS Certificate and am required to provide evidence of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) on a regular basis.
Over several years, I’ve worked therapeutically with clients from the national mental health charity, Mind. This has provided me with experience in areas such as anxiety, depression, anger, existential crisis, life-stages, Type 1 and Type 2 trauma and attachment issues. My training also involved placement at St. Cuthbert’s Hospice in Durham, where I gained valuable insights into working with clients impacted by various aspects of life-limiting illnesses. This included terminal diagnoses, curative diagnoses, post-cancer recovery, bereavement, grief, loss and dementia.
More recently I have focused my professional development on understanding and preventing suicide and working with trauma. I currently work with clients referred by the NHS Mental Health Crisis and Access teams into Darlington Mind’s Rapid Response Suicide Prevention Service. Given the nature of these referrals, I often meet with clients who have clinical diagnoses including personality disorders (Borderline Personality Disorder/Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder and Bipolar Disorder), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and psychosis. I provide sessional therapeutic services for North East Counselling Services as well as meeting with clients through my private practice.