Giving Those Who Care, Time

Welcome, and thank you for visiting Counselling With Sarah,

Working online, over the telephone and through email I support people to free themselves up from their worries, frustration and build up their confidence to be able to make choices for themselves.

Would you like to be able to have a different way to view things?

By having the chance to talk through things it can help identify and see things clearly. It could be that you find yourself feeling like there is too much to do and not enough time. This maybe because you said yes to too many things, it could feel you are unable to say no because you feel like you are letting people down. Maybe it leaves you feeling guilty and this is common when someone struggles to say no.

Would you like to be able to have a different way to view things ?

Life can throw many different challenges for us to make our way through. It can leave us feeling lost, anxious, stuck, guilty, or frustrated.


These feelings can be hard to share with those around us, perhaps it is because you worry about how someone may respond, that they may take on your worry, or you may feel judgment from them. Maybe where your worry is that they will point you in a direction you are not sure is for you.

I believe having therapy helps to recognise the choices that are there and how a better balance into life can be introduced.

Counselling can give space to process things, it can help to make things feel lighter and more manageable.

About Me

It was through a number of things that brought me to my counselling training. I was made redundant after many years working at the same organisation, this was a bit of a shock to be honest it threw me out into a world, with other possibilities. I explored quite a few options to retrain, but it was when talking to a good friend, they said I always thought you would make a good counsellor that I had a real intrigue to explore this further. So I read up a little on it and found a course that was the first step of training. And as they say ‘the rest is history !’.


Training to be a counsellor is not an easy journey, as my colleagues, friends and families would no doubt agree. Alongside understanding skills and gaining experience with working with clients, you also undertake the process of therapy and self-awareness that is an essential part of becoming a therapist, so rest assured I have also been in your shoes too.

I am a counsellor with special interest, and extensive experience, in supporting people who care for others. Caring for someone else is looking after needs of another person when they are unable to do it for themselves. I have offered counselling support to a range of caring roles, such as parents, someone with dementia, Alzheimer’s, Autism, someone with a mental health issue, drug and alcohol issue or learning difficulties.


I work as a freelance Counsellor for Counselling Carers. I have recently held a School Counsellor role with YMCA Downslink Dialogue Service. In the past I have volunteered for Carers Support West Sussex, Brighton and Hove Mind and a local low-cost counselling service.


I undertook my Psychotherapeutic Humanistic PG Diploma at the University of Brighton and in practice I draw on theories including person-centred, existential principles and Transactional Analysis.

Training and Qualifications

I am a registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and I practice within their ethical framework. I am also a member of ACTO.


I hold a certificate in Online and Telephone Counselling, this was completed through the Counselling Tutor and an Advanced Email Counselling certificate, this was completed through the Email Counselling Academy.


I have an introductory certificate in Counselling young people, this shows competency under the BACP stage 1 curriculum.


Other training includes completion of an Autism Awareness Level 2 and 3 courses and a number of Bereavement focused workshops and I am in the process of completing clinical supervision training through Counselling Tutor.

What issues can counselling help with?

I support a range of issues through counselling, here are the most common difficulties:

Anger management

Anxiety

Difficulties at work

Difficulties with parenting

Grief, loss or bereavement

Loneliness

Managing feelings of guilt

Managing overwhelm

Problems relating to caring relationships

Problems with confidence or self-esteem

Problems with family

Relationship problems

Stress management

Work-related stress

Online Counselling

I am based in Shoreham-by-Sea offering online, telephone and email counselling only. Online sessions for greater flexibility, so you do not need to be based locally you could be anywhere in the UK, you could be down the road in Southwick, Portslade or Worthing or further afield in Guildford, Manchester or even Belfast.

Click below to find out more about video, telephone and email therapy.

Video Counselling

Using a video communication platform such as Zoom allows you to meet virtually. It is web based so you do need to be able to have access to the Internet, ideally on a computer/ laptop or tablet, but you can access it through a SMART phone too.


You do not need to have an account and I will send you an invite to our session together.


I offer guidance and support for those who may need it.

Video

Telephone Counselling

I offer an opportunity to have counselling sessions on the telephone.


I will call you at the agreed session time and our session will be held over the phone.


I offer some guidance around telephone counselling to ensure that it is right for you.

Telephone

Email Counselling

Email counselling allows a good degree of flexibility allowing you to be able to read and respond at any time of day.


It does mean that there is not an instant response, and this can feel different if you have accessed counselling before.


I offer further information about how email counselling works so you can see if this is the right style for you.

Email

Sessions and Fees

Sessions are 50 minutes long and charged at £60.

Sometimes it is not possible to commit to the exact same time each week, I understand this and work with clients to mutually agree a time which is workable for both of us. This allows you to be able to fit counselling around shift patterns, meetings and other commitments.

Cancellation Policy

My cancellation policy is a minimum of 48 hours and there will be no charge. If cancellation takes place within 48 hours a session price will be charged. Payment is through bank transfer, details of which are provided at the time of booking.

Low cost counselling and EAP referrals

I offer a limited number of low-cost sessions and can offer a student rate. These are considered on a case-by-case basis.


I am able to accept some EAP referrals, please do email me to check or provide my details to your EAP who can contact me on your behalf.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I book in?

Please email me, contact me through the contact form, or call me on 07745 528393 leaving a message. Please let me know how you would like me to contact you via email, phone call or text. Please do check your junk email messages as unfortunately sometimes messages can go astray. I do answer all enquiries.

How can counselling help?

Counselling can help with feelings of overwhelm, loneliness and isolation. It can offer support through your experiences of anxiety, bereavement, feelings of being angry, guilty, scared, sad or low.


Counselling can help to support you through changes that happen, or you want to happen in life by allowing an opportunity to notice feelings and thoughts that are coming up for you.

What will happen at my first session?

At the first session it gives you a chance to talk about what brings you to counselling. It is a great opportunity to see how it would be to share and work with me.

The first session is a chance to talk about what brings you to counselling. We can together go through what you are looking for and it gives a chance to answer any questions that you might have about working with me. It allows an opportunity to have a bit of background which you feel comfortable sharing.


It is a great opportunity to see how it would be to share and work with me. This is important as I believe the therapeutic relationship is key within the work that we will do together. It is the first step to take towards building some trust between us.


We can go through and complete the paperwork bit too, this is not too much and I assist anyone who needs it. The focus thereafter is what you choose to talk about and explore.

Is there a minimum or maximum amount of sessions?

There is no set amount of sessions that you need to have, I do ask where possible that I have at least one sessions notice before we end, this allows us to end in a way which is planned and anticipated this in itself can be a helpful part of therapy.

What happens if I don’t want to talk about something?

That is ok, sessions can go at a pace that feel right for you. There is no obligation to say anything, we can go at a pace that feels right for you.

Get in touch

Feel free to contact me if you have any questions about how counselling works, or to arrange an initial assessment appointment. This enables us to discuss the reasons you are thinking of coming to counselling, whether it could be helpful for you and whether I am the right therapist to help.


You can also call me on 07745528393 if you would prefer to leave a message or speak to me first. I am happy to discuss any queries or questions you may have prior to arranging an initial appointment.


All enquires are usually answered within 72 hours, and all contact is strictly confidential and uses secure phone and email services.


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