About Sarah

Sarah is a highly experienced psychotherapist and counsellor offering free assessments at the Tree of Life in Hove. Therapy offers an opportunity to explore your concerns at your own pace in a safe, supportive and confidential setting.

People come to counselling for a variety of reasons. Some may come with a particular problem, or in response to a crisis or trauma in their lives .Others may come to explore long standing issues, or are seeking an increased understanding of who they are or why they behave in certain ways.

Therapy can also help when you don’t know exactly what troubles you, but you have a sense that something is not right or that life is not as fulfilling as it could be. Sometimes we just need extra support for a while to get through a difficult time.

My experience includes helping people with:

• Anxiety and stress

• Relationship issues

• Panic disorder

• Low self esteem

• Bereavement and loss

• Relationship break up

• Pet loss

• A sense of ‘feeling not quite right’

• Low energy and exhaustion

• Feeling teary or overwhelmed

• Family relationships, past and present

• Depression

• Feeling isolated and alone

• Eating disorders and OCD

• Adult/Child trauma

• Someone to talk to

I also incorporate Cognitive Based Therapy (CBT) in my practice as I believe that, with commitment, it can bring about significant changes and benefits.

Using CBT techniques can be very effective in exploring how unexamined or unconscious beliefs and assumptions can work to limit our options, self expression and even our health. 

Through bringing our ‘thinking habits’ into the light, CBT gives us the tools to challenge and dismantle unhelpful behaviour patterns.  CBT can then be brought in to every area of our lives to increase our autonomy, confidence and wellbeing.

In addition, I offer specialist sessions (1 to 1 or small groups) working specifically with understanding and managing anxiety, stress and panic symptoms.

I am an experienced couples therapist.

I also offer Solution Focused Brief Therapy.

Training, qualifications & experience

I hold a Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling from The Northern Guild for Psychotherapy, accredited by the UKCP. I am registered with the BACP and adhere to their code of ethics and confidentiality.

I am a psychotherapist and counsellor working with adults, both men and women, and couples, who bring a wide range of personal concerns, crisis, trauma and emotional difficulties.

As well as private practice, I have had many years experience working as a counsellor and psychotherapist in a large GP surgery in the North East. I am also currently employed by Mind, working in a specialist centre in Hove for people with mental health difficulties and a diagnosis of Personality Disorder.

I specialise in anxiety, stress and panic symptoms and offer treatment to help with understanding and managing anxiety. I also deliver the Managing Anxiety course for the Recovery College. (See https://www.sussexrecoverycollege.org.uk)

I have a degree and an ongoing interest in philosophy and offer existential psychotherapy.

My Approach

I am an Integrative Psychotherapist, which means drawing on and blending elements of different theories towards a combined approach, yet still tailoring the therapy to the needs of each person.

I work with clients from various ethnic, religious and social backgrounds and with diverse sexual identities.

Psychotherapy or counselling is intended to improve well-being and to lead to a greater capacity to make choices and changes that enhance your life.

If you would like to chat with me about whether I may be able to help you, please feel free to contact me on 01273 220159 / 07899 914247. I look forward to hearing from you!