Sarah Rycroft MBACP(ACCRED) ADV DIP Supervision RGN

Catherine Street Frome Somerset BA11 1DA
01373 464442 / 07876798378 Click here to Email me

Profile

Thanks for looking and welcome to my site. If this is a difficult time in your life and you are reaching out for support, it may be hard to know how to choose the right counsellor for you. Even if you think counselling has something to offer and you are ready to take the plunge of talking to a complete stranger about your innermost thoughts, you may still feel anxious about letting yourself in for something when you can't be sure of the outcome. I can remember that feeling myself when I entered personal therapy to widen my self-awareness. This is why the first thing that I do when a new client comes to see me is to congratulate them on their courage in just coming along.

After that, we discuss matters of confidentuality and scheduling and agree a contract that will allow us both to feel confident and safe. I follow at all times the ethical guidelines of the British association of counsellors and psychtherapists (BACP.) My aim to start with is to establish a professional relationship that is agreeable to us both and is firmly based. I offer a free half hour to assess the problem that bought the client to me, during which we can both see if we feel able to form an open and trusting relationship. Once this has been established, I can offer my clients the space and time to listen closely to what they have to say about themselves. This may be a telling of events and feelings that has never before been given the attention it deserves. Just this may sometimes provide enough further clarity in the client's mind to allow solutions to their problems to come to the surface. It's amazing how much easier it can be to think straight in the quiet and secure atmosphere of a counselling room.

I have helped many distressed and disillusioned clients in the past to find their own unique way forward, simply by approaching their lives in a more relaxed and realistic way. Other clients have spoken of their experience of feeling valued,perhaps for the first time ever, which in itself has altered their view of themselves sufficiently to change their approach to relationships. We achieve such results together through an open and trusting relationship, a little gentle questioning and my tayloring of therapy to the individual client.

I originally trained as a nurse (RGN), work that I regarded as a vocation. I specialised in the nursing of kidney disease and worked in both dialysis and transplant units. Some patients suffer deeply from depression after transplants. Which is sometimes connected with guilt felt towards the donor.Others knew they were in a terminal stage of disease. Because I am a natural listener, I was reprimanded more than once by senior nurses who found me sitting on the bed of a distressed patient rather than looking busy. I still feel that time spent with such patients in this way had to be just as important in their healing process as the efficient running of understaffed wards. Patients told me that I had eased their loneliness and thats how I became interested in counselling.

I have since gained much experience as psychotherapist working in schools and colleges, helping students and staff with problems over relationships and low self-esteem. I now work part- time in a college of technology, while continuing to see private clients at my home, which I have now been doing for many years, covering a wide range of issues.
I run a supervision service for both experienced and student counsellors, to assist them with their client issues and understanding of the unconscious processes between client and counsellor.I
I offer my clients sixty minutes therapy per week, rather than the usual 50-minute session, which I find works better for both my client and myself.
I work short-term, usually giving 14 sessions, on uncomplicated issues and provide long-term therapy for those with more complex problems.

I am married to a doctor and have three grown-up sons and a young daughter plus a large shaggy dog and some hens in the garden. The boys have now left home.

My counselling room is little haven of peace and tranquility.a place which is private and undisturbed by others.

Training, Qualifications & Experience

RGN 1980

CERT in counselling skills 2000 CERT in counselling theory 2001

Advanced Diploma theraputic counselling 2004

CERT in Adolescents and children 2007

Advanced Diploma Theraputic Supervision 2009

Accredited member of BACP
UKCP Registered Independant Counsellor 2008

Cert. Practioner Of Neuro-Linguistic Programming

Time line Therapy

Extensive workshop training in CBT by renowned Christine A. Padesky PHD
Attending regular workshops and lectures

Placement experience in various colleges
6 years part time work in local college
Private practice for last 8 years
Member of CIPCA organising counsellor workshops locally.