Compassion Focused Counselling in Brentford

I am a Chartered Counselling Psychologist and have a number of years experience working in the NHS with people dealing with trauma, anxiety and perinatal difficulties. I want to offer you a therapy experience that is centred around you and your needs. You might be struggling with relationships in your life, dealing with worries and anxiety or unresolved traumatic experiences from your past - or you might not know exactly what is wrong but are just looking for a place to talk and understand yourself better. I can offer a safe and calm space to explore what is going on for you and think together about ways we can help you.

Having worked in mental health for over 15 years I have experience of working with clients of all ages and backgrounds. My practice is grounded in theory and methodologies informed by the latest evidence and I work in adherence with NICE guidelines. It gives me huge pleasure supporting individual clients or couples to overcome their challenges and achieve their therapeutic goals. My specialities are Adjustment Disorder, Agoraphobia, Complex Trauma, Depression, Generalised Anxiety Disorder, Bereavement, Health Anxiety, Insomnia, Low Self-Esteem, OCD, Panic Disorder, PTSD, Social Anxiety, Specific Phobias and relational difficulties.

Many people come to therapy feeling low, anxious or lost, and I offer a space to explore those experiences and identify opportunities for doing things differently. I welcome people from all backgrounds and experiences, and usually start by working with you to understand who you are and what is important to you. I draw on a range of approaches (e.g. narrative therapy, cognitive behavioural therapy, and compassion focused approaches), with a particular focus on values and identity. I am experienced in supporting adults of all ages with a range of issues, such as low mood, stress, anxiety and shame.

"And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom." Life can be difficult at times and we tend to experience our greatest challenges when what we are doing is very different from what we would like to be doing. Sometimes our relationships might not be fulfilling or work can seem pointless or unsatisfactory. This can manifest in distressing thoughts, painful feelings and unhelpful behaviours. Our work together will help you to live a more rich and meaningful life.

Welcome to my profile page. I am specialized in treating problems such as Stress,Worry, Anxiety, Psychosis, Depression and OCD. I emphasise the use of Cognitive Behavioral Psychotherapies as these offer a wealth of scientific evidence backing their effectiveness. When getting to know you, I very much emphasize getting an individual picture of your concerns in order to tailor a treatment program towards you. This entails that you will get to know psychotherapeutic principles and techniques that are adapted specifically towards you. The gained knowledge will aid in helping you address your problems in a direct and pragmatic manner.

My name is Sarah and I have over 20 years experience working as a Psychotherapist in the NHS and in private practice. I specialise in CBT, ACT, Compassion focused approaches and in EMDR. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), includes a range of talking therapies, all based on the idea that thoughts, feelings, what we do, and how our bodies feel, are all connected. If we change one of these we can alter all the others. When we’re low or upset, we often fall into patterns of thinking and responding which can worsen how we feel. CBT works to help us notice thinking styles or unhelpful things that we do so we can live better.

As a registered clinical psychologist I have a passion for working with a wide range of emotional and behavioural difficulties, such as fear, anxiety, poor self-esteem, low mood, depression, panic attacks, bereavement, stress, difficulties in adjusting to life events and interpersonal difficulties. I know that deciding to seek help can be difficult, yet living with emotional difficulties can be even more challenging and draining. I want to empower you to find new ways of coping and being. This can mean learning new coping strategies, relating differently to your thoughts and emotions, and being more connected to others.

It can be really hard asking for help. It can be even harder to think about your own needs when you’re so used to caring for others. What if we’re seen as a failure for not being able to do it all on our own? It can make us feel stuck, trapped even, behind our own smiles and silence. But I see you and I hear you. Life doesn’t have to feel this way. A lot of my clients find it hard taking up space, who have built their lives on prioritising the needs and feelings of others, leading them struggling to identify let alone ask for what they want.

I am a Chartered Clinical Psychologist working with adults to address mild to severe psychological difficulties including anxiety, depression, OCD and Bipolar Affective Disorder. I can also help with concerns around stress, relationships, challenging life events, loss, adjustment to illness, low self-esteem, and unresolved childhood issues. Since becoming a mother, I have developed a specific interest in working with maternal mental health and wellbeing. I frequently support parents as they navigate the new demands, change in role and stresses that come with pregnancy and parenthood.

I offer both in-person and online therapy. I have over ten years’ experience working in the mental health sector, helping people overcome and manage their difficulties, be it in their personal or professional lives. I specialise in working with anxiety, depression, OCD, bereavement, health difficulties, and relationship counselling. I work with both adults and young people and can incorporate a number of different therapeutic approaches, including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, systemic therapy, Acceptance and Commitment therapy, schema therapy, and compassion focused therapy.

Do you need someone to talk to? Do you need some emotional support, and help understanding what’s going on? There can be times when you feel overwhelmed and powerless, and now you’ve taken the decision to reach out for help. My priority is to make you feel safe and supported enough in the session to talk freely about whatever is bothering you, about whatever you’re feeling, and that can be quite a daunting prospect. Maybe you’ve never really had the opportunity to explain your innermost thoughts and feelings to someone who cares. You’ll find it liberating, and it will be the start of a major journey of healing and self-discovery.