Donna Sadler
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This professional is accepting new clients but may have a waitlist. Please enquire with them directly to discuss availability.
About me
" There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you".
—Maya Angelou.
Welcome.
I'm Donna. I've worked in the field of mental health for 30 years and am an experienced integrative child and adolescent and adult psychotherapist and counsellor.
My therapeutic approach is psychodynamic and trauma and attachment informed. I'm particularly curious about how past relationships and early experiences shape our present relationships, feelings, thoughts, and behaviour patterns and especially the unconscious mind. My practice draws from a range of developmental psychology, relational and humanistic modalities, as well as the neuroscience of emotion and affect regulation.
I describe myself as a deeply sensitive, engaging practitioner committed to creating an open and welcoming practice that embraces all forms of expression and diversity, and I honour the unique narrative each person brings to the therapy room.
I hold a safe space for clients to explore meaning in their personal challenges, and when it feels right I will also offer opportunities for creative expression, for times when words alone might not be enough. I also like to integrate body awareness into my practice in ways that resonate with each individual.
From unprocessed harmful experiences to modern living, chronic stress if not properly nurtured, can lead to the dysregulation of the nervous system. I truly believe healing can occur within safe and healthy relationships - including the therapeutic relationship - which can help us reconnect with our true expression of Self, with the significant others we love, and with the wider natural world.
Working together in a gentle co-creative therapeutic space, my aim is to help you feel genuinely heard, seen, and valued.
I look forward to working with you.
Training, qualifications & experience
My psychotherapy training in Transactional Analysis began in the mid 1990s with the Manchester Institute for Psychotherapy, and I completed my final year with the Wealdon Institute of Psychology, following my move to the south of England in 2007.
I hold a UKCP Accredited Master's degree in Integrative Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy and Counselling with Terapia/Middlesex University.
Alongside my private practice with adults, I work as part of The Therapeutic Consultants (TTC) team of psychotherapists. TTC is a multi-disciplinary mental health organisation specialising in short-term psychotherapy intervention using the Family Insight Model with adoptive parents, care-givers and children through the ASGSF initiative.
I also provide long-term psychotherapy with private adults, children, parents and care-givers more broadly.
Social Work
I am a qualified social worker. I specialised in children and families, and my statutory career went on to include front-line child protection and the NHS with a range of local authorities.
NHS/Pennine Care Trust: Assertive Outreach - Care Coordinator (Locum)
Locum Care-Coordinator within an NHS Community Mental Health team (Assertive Outreach) assessing risk and need for young people and adults over 18 experiencing varying degrees of psychosis.
Patients typically presented with complex PTSD or significant relational and developmental trauma alongside their diagnoses. The role's core aims were to assess risk and support patients to live full, safe lives within the community.
Older People/Vulnerable Adults Team
I worked with vulnerable adults and older individuals and their carers, assessing mental capacity, safeguarding risks, and subsequently developing care packages to help this vulnerable group live independently and safely in their own homes.
Residential Social Worker (Live-in RSW)
I worked as part of a team supporting highly complex children with multiple social, psychological, and developmental needs. Children were at risk of family breakdown arising from family attachment ruptures and/or the complexities of intergenerational trauma.
School Therapist
I provided long and short-term psychotherapy with children and adolescents in primary and secondary schools across West Sussex. Essential networking was held in partnership with parents and families, pastoral and SLT staff.
Youth Dream Charity: The Bridge Community Support Centre, Chichester
Child and Adolescent Psychotherapist, Group Practitioner, Designated Safeguarding Officer.
I initially held the role of Designated Safeguarding Officer (DSO) for the charity. I wrote and compiled the charity's first formal West Sussex County Council (WSCC) approved Safeguarding Policy and I ran monthly safeguarding training for volunteers.
I co-facilitated therapeutic groups for young carers, children coping with loss and bereavement, those experiencing complex trauma, and I ran social and psycho-educational programmes designed specifically for Year 9 students.
I provided long and short-term counselling, psychotherapy and play therapy for children and adolescents, working closely with parents and families, relevant pastoral and SLT school staff, IPEH family support teams, and Tier 4 level services such as children's social care and CAMHS.
Placement Roles (as part of past trainings)
Chichester Nursery School:
- Child Psychotherapist and therapeutic parenting provision.
MIND, Mental Health Charity:
- Person-Centred Counsellor & Mental Health Advisor.
Mother & Baby Specialist Supported Housing Service:
- Accommodation, attachment education, and wellbeing support for pregnant women and young mothers aged 16-25 with children aged five and under. The role also required social assistance to support individuals' transition to independent living
Qualifications and Training
MA. Child Psych. - Integrative Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy and Counselling - (Children, Adolescents and Families)
DipSW - Diploma in Social Work (Children and Families)
Cert.TA - Psychotherapy (Adults)
Cert. Couns. Person-Centred Counselling Certificate (Adults)
I enjoy expanding my professional learning and personal development and am fully committed to regular CPD.
Member organisations
school Registered / Accredited
Being registered/accredited with a professional body means an individual must have achieved a substantial level of training and experience approved by their member organisation.
The National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society This Not For Profit association of counsellors and psychotherapists aim to support the counselling profession, members and training organisations. In 2013 the NCS register was accredited by the Professional Standards Authority under the Accredited Voluntary Register Scheme. Accredited by the Professional Standards Authority.
The UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) is a leading professional body for the education, training and regulation of psychotherapists and psychotherapeutic counsellors. Its register is accredited by the government's Professional Standards Authority.
As part of its commitment to protect the public, it works to improve access to psychotherapy, to support and disseminate research, to improve standards and to respond effectively to complaints against its members.
UKCP standards cover the range of different psychotherapies. Registration is obtained by training or accrediting with one of its member organisations, or by holding a European Certificate in Psychotherapy. Accredited by the Professional Standards Authority.
Accredited register membership
The Accredited Register Scheme was set up in 2013 by the Department of Health (DoH) as a way to recognise organisations that hold voluntary registers which meet certain standards. These standards are set by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA).
This therapist has indicated that they belong to an Accredited Register.
The Accredited Register Scheme was set up in 2013 by the Department of Health (DoH) as a way to recognise organisations that hold voluntary registers which meet certain standards. These standards are set by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA).
This therapist has indicated that they belong to an Accredited Register.
Areas of counselling I deal with
Other areas of counselling I deal with
Special Areas of Interest and Research
Grief and bereavement, adverse childhood experiences and trauma, sexual abuse, intergenerational trauma, step-families, relational trauma, adoption and fostering, therapeutic parenting, disordered eating, body dysmorphia, chronic stress and anxiety, OCD, depression, adult abuse and bullying, racial/discrimination, BAME and wider cultural issues, neurodiversity, sexuality, identity and gender issues, sex and relationships, anger, self-harm, addictive and compulsive behaviours, chronic and enduring long-term physical health challenges, PMDD, M.E., Fibromyalgia, women's/health issues, menopause/mid life themes, organisation and work-based challenges, transpersonal, philosophical and existential life themes.
Therapies offered
Fees
Health Insurance/EAP
Additional information
Provider for AXA Health, BUPA, Vitality Health, Allianz Care.
If your treatment is covered by private health insurance, the fees may differ from the standard rate but I request clients pay me directly and then reclaim the cost from their insurer.
When I work
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