Sarah Rycroft

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 your needs. 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 own self-awareness. This is why the first thing that I do when a new client comes to see me is to acknowledge their courage in just coming along.

After that, we discuss matters of confidentiality 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 Psychotherapists (BACP). I attend individual monthly supervision and regularly update myself with workshops and Continuing Professional Development (CPD). Earning the status of BACP Senior Accredited Counsellor/Psychotherapist in 2016 has deepened my understanding and professionalism  as a therapist.

My aim to start with is to establish a professional relationship that is agreeable to us both and is firmly based. I offer an extra free half hour to assess the problem that brought you 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 you the space and time to listen closely to what you have to say about yourself. This may be a telling of events and feelings that have never before been given the attention they deserve. Just this may sometimes provide enough further clarity in your mind to allow solutions to your 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 tailoring of therapy to the individual client.

I feel it is vital for effective therapy to establish at the beginning what the client wants and needs as an outcome.Time is spent visualizing and sensing the outcome, including how others will experience them differently to how they are now. We work towards goals and I set homework to allow experimentation  and a chance to try out new ways of being. I believe it is positive to have a direction in our work, rather than floating on the water without a rudder. As I work in an integrative way, I will use different theories that will suit the individual client and issue.  

I have had much success using a fast-phobia model to cure clients with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other phobias. It is very quick and easy and my clients tell me that, although the memory remains, the feeling is removed and detached, leaving them feeling free for the first time since developing the problem. 

I offer couples-counselling to those in relationship difficulties, and find solution-focused therapy  effective in looking  for the positives and a way forward.This can often offer the couple a fresh perspective on their relationship. Some couples also like to incorporate  individual sessions if they find there is a more deep-seated issue that is impeding their relationship.  
                 
                                   COUPLES-COUNSELLING TESTIMONIAL
“Working with Sarah gave us the insight and tools we needed to work on our relationship both with each other and ourselves. Sarah was professional but approachable, and made us immediately feel at ease. The sessions have provided such positive results and encouraged us to work out how to maintain and build a better connection into the future.”

B and A

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I originally trained as a nurse (RGN), work that I regarded as a vocation. I specialized 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 that’s 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. Until moving location, I was employed as college counsellor and had a large private practice for 18 years. Since qualifying as a Senior Accredited Counsellor/Psychotherapist with the BACP and as a trained supervisor, 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 also offer personal therapy for student counsellors, and I continue to see clients privately.  

I offer my clients a full  sixty minutes therapy per session rather than the more usual fifty minutes, which I find works better for both my client and myself.
I work short-term, usually giving 6-18 sessions on uncomplicated issues, and provide long-term therapy for those with more complex problems.

My counselling room has been described as a little haven of peace and tranquility by some clients, a place that is private and undisturbed by others.

NLP Training
Time line therapy for removing root cause of negative emotions

Rewind Technique

clients suffering from narcissistic abuse syndrome

specialising in relationship dynamics which cause anxiety and self doubt.

THERAPY FEES

Individual
£60 per hour session
Assessment one half hours long, half hour of which is free

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 Couples Therapy

£70 per 60 minute couples therapy

£100 Per 90 minute couples therapy

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Rewind Technique Hypnotherapy for phobias  and PTSD

Separate  fee for clients only requesting  RT 

I hour assessment

one and half hour  hypnotherapy session 

I hour follow up 

Package fee £400

for  existing clients incorporating this treatment

normal fee of £60 per hour

                                                       TESTIMONIALS

The tragic loss of a close friend and an imminent arrival  of my partner’s mother who had dementia, to live at our house, took us to go and see Sarah as a couple.The sessions were very positive and helpful and we felt comfortable and safe there.
So much so that I decided to carry on working with Sarah after our sessions ended, for my own issues resulting from childhood trauma and it’s lasting affect on me.

With  Sarah’s extensive knowledge, expert guidance and warm, kind, empathic nature, I was able to finally acknowledge, access and work through deep- seated emotions, Instead  of being paralysed by them.I was able to trust Sarah, something that has always  been alien to me. She always had a way to help me overcome barriers and access deeply buried feelings and anxieties through talking and using hypnotic techniques such as timeline and Rewind Techniques getting to the core of my issues.

It’s been a long journey but I now believe I DO matter and can actually say I am a good person and believe it! It has been life changing and I am so grateful to  have found Sarah. I feel much stronger, bolder and happier and have the skills to move forward in my life, but also safer knowing Sarah is there if I her in the future.

Thank you Sarah from the bottom of my heart.

Lucy F

2023

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“I Came to see Sarah with unresolved trauma and we did the Rewind Technique/hypnotherapy, which after 15 years of feeling the effect of this trauma, I  later felt a sence of peace and no longer get triggered, which is so freeing.

sarah has helped me get to the crux of things in my life which were unknowingly affecting me and causing me pain. Notably an unhealthy dynamic with a family member. Once I had found clarity on this, she has supported me in unpacking the feelings that came with ending this dynamic. 
with this clarity, I also feel my self worth again. When in doubt, I heard Sarah’s  wise words in my head, and now I have these words in my own head, to move forward in the next chapter of my life.
I couldn’t recommend Sarah enough.She is professional, experienced, personable and kind.”

A.D

2023

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I visited Sarah for counselling for around 5 months, and cannot express how grateful I am to her for the help I've received.We connected very quickly, and I was always at ease discussing any issues I required help with.

Sarah has given me much needed headspace, clarity and perspective on what has been a fairly difficult and traumatic period of my life.

A real turning point for me was when she conducted the Rewind Technique, a short hypnotherapy session to try and properly process a particularly traumatic series of events, that I had been blocking out. At first I was apprehensive of going back over that time in detail, but actually it was a gentle, calm and simple process that was phenomenally powerful and not at all distressing.

The impact of the events has since softened and does not cause me daily anxiety or stress and I really feel I've been able to process everything in a "normal" way, allowing me to move on in my life.

I would highly recommend Sarah and would absolutely come back to see her again, should I feel I needed to.

Lucy

. October 

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When I came to see Sarah I had very little self worth, judged myself extremely harshly by how I thought everyone else saw me. I basically didn't believe that my opinions were valid over anyone else's. I was constantly anxious... spent my life worrying about almost everything and sometimes I didn't even know what I was worrying about. And honestly didn't see any point to my own life. It was a very difficult step for me to take to decide that actually I needed help... but my anxiety had got to the point where I knew I wasn't living life to the fullest, and I was desperate for that to change, but very sceptical that it actually would.You worked with me to help me understand why I felt like that, helped me understand how I was interpreting the world around me to support my beliefs that I was worthless. Questioned all the negative statements and beliefs I had about myself, and just taught me to understand which things were basically making me more anxious

You helped me to realise that I am a good person, someone I am very proud to be and that if people are passing judgement on me then that's their problem and not mine, not something I need to worry about. I actually like myself now, I accept myself, and that was something I literally couldn't say to you when you asked me to in one of our first few sessions because it felt like too much of a lie to vocalise.

The most important thing is that I'm now happy, so so happy. Before I was just plain miserable. And now I spend most of my time smiling... just perfectly happy with my life and how it is now that I don't feel like I'm trying to answer to the made up demands that I felt other people were putting on me.

I still can't quite believe just how differently I feel nowadays.  The anxiety still creeps back in sometimes... but I have a way to cope with that now and it's no longer preventing my from living the life I want and doing the things I want to do.  I just wish I'd come to see you sooner
Thank you for all of your help!

Lindsey

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I contacted Sarah when I couldn't see a way out of the situation I was in with my marriage. I was unhappy, stressed and worried about the effect this was having on the sort of mum I was being to my two children. Weekly sessions with Sarah were something I came to think of as a release - a positive step towards my future. In our first session, Sarah asked me what I wanted out of the counselling sessions with her and I remember telling her that I wanted the chaos in my head to stop. I thougt of myself as somebody who was aware of my own emotions and how things in my past may affect me, but Sarah shone a light on so much I was oblivious to. To have somebody there to listen - really listen - and offer gentle guidance to finding answers has proved to be incredible. I had lost my self confidence, my ability to speak up when wronged, and the ability to recognise controlling behaviour. Some sessions were heartbreaking as patterns in my behaviour were so clearly linked to my childhood, and as I actually accepted that what I wanted was to not be with my husband anymore, to accept that through no fault of my own my marriage had ended. I will never, ever, forget those sessions - I draw on them for strength even now when I sense the controlling behaviour sneaking in again and it means I can refuse to be controlled - it's empowering! I am now so much happier - a separated woman with two very lovely children who are benefiting from having Happy Mum back at the helm! I cannot recommend Sarah enough - even if there were sessions I didn't class as ground breaking, in future sessions she would pick up on something I had said previously, we'd talk about why I'd said it and we were another step up the ladder. If you are struggling with something and wondering if counselling is something you really need, I would urge you to give it a try. I will always be glad that I did.

Email: bluedaisy1@hotmail.com
Phone: 01373 834620
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Working with you - you with me, helped me remember myself,a re-kindling and to locate my power,understand something of my value and I began to look for possibilities.Part of the outcome of your work with me is that I have left, ended that relationship, set-up a new home where I now live part time with my children and have begun a brilliant new "grown-up" relationship.
Thank you Sarah for your brilliant and very generous help

D.D

what Sarah helped me with in therapy, was to find the belief in myself and the skills i have, and being given the confidence to use that belief to change my personal situation. for example, it gave me the confidence to negotiate a permanent position for myself on a desirable dayshift within the organisation where i work (before therapy with Sarah i was just a sub-contractor working 12hr night shifts with none of the benefits that my permanent colleagues enjoyed).

Paul

I went to Sarah for help when I hit a crisis in my marriage.  I was attempting to deal with some very significant issues and ultimately came to realise that I was suffering considerable abuse at the hands of my husband.  I decided to leave the relationship and then had to deal with the effects of years of emotional abuse. Sarah was with me throughout and helped me hugely.  She is a very insightful and compassionate lady and helped me to unpick what had happened and ultimately build me up to a point where I could move forward.

Sarah helped me to realise that I was worth something and as a consequence my self-esteem grew.  In addition she helped me to develop the emotional tools to deal with difficulties I encountered in my daily life.

I cannot recommend Sarah highly enough.  She is a very professional and highly competent counsellor.

Beccy

Knowing I was unhappy, easily upset and feeling very low made me realise I wasn’t myself and I needed help. It was always a courageous decision for me to approach someone for counselling. I found Sarah online, she wasn’t too far from me and her credentials were impressive. I also thought she had the appearance of someone whom I could trust.

Explaining boundaries and the counselling process at our initial appointment in a comfortable and safe environment help me feel at ease. Right from the start, Sarah listened and encouraged me to talk through my problems. Even when I thought I wasn’t getting anywhere, Sarah proved me wrong. I’d buried things from my childhood, avoided them whilst in the Army, and they all re-surfaced again when I found myself back in the world.

The timeline therapy was particularly useful at the end of our sessions together. It allowed perspective and closure, and a foot hold to push on from. A huge weight was taken away from my shoulders.

Can I give anyone a little advice? Just take that leap of faith, it’s far better than you imagine.

I can’t recommend Sarah enough and I’m eternally grateful. She helped me get through a dark time and arrived back at the life I wanted. I’m emotionally stronger, happier and have my control back.

Jim

Sarah is a fabulous Counsellor I would strongly reccomend her , she is empathic and a great listener.
At times I had overwhelming Anxiety, Sarah's Counselling enabled me to get to the root of my fears, in a safe friendly environment which enabled me to explore painful emotions, I felt totally accepted and not judged for the individual I am, and emerged a much more confident person and achieved a belief in myself that I had never known.

Thankyou Sarah

Lisa.

Having separated from my wife, and deciding  I had a few issues with my anger and past that needed addressing, I found Sarah’s details advertised and gave her a call to see if she could help me.
She was very approachable, and after a brief discussion we decided to arrange a meet. Her demeanour on the phone made me feel very relaxed and comfortable, and upon meeting her for the first time her professionalism as well as an obvious caring side became very apparent.
We met over the period of many months and worked through my issues, to a point where I felt better in myself that I didn’t need Sarah’s help anymore.
Through her help I was able to find out why, I was how I was and how I ticked, this means I now no longer have the issues I previously had.
Sarah is kind and listens without judgement, and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend her to anyone who wishes to sort out their issues in their life

Richard G

Counselling Testimonial

I was a client of SR for approximately 3 - 5 months. I was studying at a university and I felt I needed to deal with some emotional issues to allow me to be "stronger, more robust, more open" in a nutshell to become an artist and not be afraid to explore emotional issues within my work. This involved exploring relationships especially with my mother. I knew after about the third session that I trusted SR to support me in the work involved and a two hour session was booked in order to use a method that would enable me to recall memories and associated emotions and work through them. It was as if I was enabled to accept the memories and just file them in the long term memory and be OK with them.
SR allowed me to email her with information about developments. One example was my ability to be with her dogs. I was also able to sit with a German shepherd at an art school in London that I visited. This was a wonderful achievement as fear of dogs has been something that I wanted to work on. 
Sessions started on time and finished on time. I completed a questionnaire during session one which helped me to contexualise why I was entering counselling and I was pleased that my counsellor was wanting an overview at the beginning. SR told me that she was moving and leaving the area and I knew that when my counselling ended I would not be able to continue into long term counselling with her.

I felt comfortable and curious in the counselling room and I especially liked to focus on art work and sculpture during parts of the session. I also found the gentle sounds of the chickens outside in her back garden soothing.

My work with SR has been life changing and overall I am a happier person. I see my past as enhancing rather than crippling.

Jane      07.06.12