Rachael Sawyer

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BSc, PG Dip. Counselling, NCPS(Accredited)
Available for new clients
Available for new clients

This professional is available for new clients.

Bristol, Gloucestershire, BS36
Available for new clients
Available for new clients

This professional is available for new clients.

About me

I offer a friendly and professional, counselling relationship and therapeutic environment.

My approach is open, warm and non-judgemental.  I offer a safe, calm, supportive and confidential space for us to work together.  I will value all your experiences and will be thoughtful in exploring your issues; utilising my skills and experience as a counsellor of more than eighteen years, to find meaningful ways of working together, that are right for you and at your pace.

A therapist offers a relationship outside of everything, opening up a private and neutral space to explore and speak openly about anything you choose. 

I will support you in finding your way through whatever difficulty you are experiencing or challenge you are facing.  Together we will work towards making sense of what feels overwhelming, confusing or conflicting.  We can explore issues involving your self esteem, your relationships and counselling will deepen your self awareness. 

Together we will find strategies that work for you, so you are better equipped to navigate crisis and you will come to better understand yourself and how you relate to those around you.

I believe we can find a way forwards for you, supported from within you and drawing on all your knowledge and experiences. Together we will find resources that you have both within and outside of the counselling room.

It is often the simplest things which help us, offering vital time to reflect and give us balance and perspective in our lives.  I love to read, listen to music or watch a film.  A walk in the trees or swimming is calming for me and allows me to reflect, give balance, rest and restore. 

We will talk about the ways in which you can support and nourish yourself.  It is so important for us in our daily lives and especially when undertaking counselling, to be safe and supported both inside and outside of the therapy room.

Clients that I work with bring many issues such as;  anxiety, stress, depression, loss and bereavement, sexual, physical and emotional abuse, relationship problems, separation and divorce, trauma, dissociation and post-traumatic stress symptoms, panic attacks, physical and mental well being issues, neural diversity, self harming behaviours, eating disorders, parenting and parents, work issues, emotional overwhelm and underwhelm.

I attend regular supervision to support my work and actively seek out training and reading to keep my practice informed and ethical.

I understand that it can be difficult to ask for help and believe that it takes courage to enter into having some counselling. If you have any questions or are curious about anything, please feel free to make contact.

I look forward to hearing from you.  Rachael

Training, qualifications & experience

-Diploma in Professional Studies Counselling 2005-2007 University of the West of England

-Certificate in Counselling 2001 University of the West of England

-BSC (Hons) Sociology, 1994 Plymouth University

I have many years experience working as a counsellor with survivors of sexual abuse and rape, for a specialist agency in Bristol and within the NHS IAPT and HM Prison Service.
I welcome people who are looking to work on the many issues involved in sexual, physical and emotional abuse and with the wider impacts that abuse can have.  I recognise the deep and far reaching affects people experience, across and throughout their lives, in normal response to and survival of traumatic events. I can work through the issues involved, safely and hold you through the difficult and challenging work that is involved.

I also welcome people who are dealing with a loved ones disclosure of sexual abuse and are managing the many issues arising and affecting so much within their families or relationships. If you are a partner or a family member and are looking for support in exploring your feelings and the difficulties that can come with disclosures and how to best support the survivors of trauma, counselling can support you too.

Member organisations

Registered / Accredited

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.

NCPS
National Counselling & Psychotherapy Society (NCPS)

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.

Accredited register membership

National Counselling & Psychotherapy Society
Accredited Register Scheme

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.

National Counselling & Psychotherapy Society

Fees

£50.00 per session

Additional information

£50.00 per hourly session.
£50.00 for an initial assessment appointment, to meet and discuss the support you are looking for and to find out if you would like to work together.  Session for up to an hour.
The session rate can be negotiable depending on your circumstances.
I offer short and long term work.
We will review our work together regularly, to check in with where you are and how you are doing and to ensure that you are getting what you need from working together in the counselling sessions.

When I work

Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
Morning
Afternoon
Evening
Night

I work from a comfortable, private and peaceful room in my garden and am flexible with the times I can offer. Day times Monday to Friday, with some evening sessions available.

Further information

Testimonials from some clients I have worked with:

'Your support is so anchoring and I appreciate your flexibility and presence. I don't know how you work your 'magic' but you really help me. You have been a constant through all the storms of the past few years. Thank you.' 

'I just wanted to let you know how important working with you has been to me. Our sessions have made such a difference to my mental well being.'

'Just wanted to say thank you for listening and helping me at a particularly difficult time. You gave me a safe space to express 'stuff' and be heard.'


'Rachael. Thank you for helping me to understand myself, for your reassurance when things felt tough and getting me to a place of acceptance and empowerment'


'Rachael. I am ready for a fresh start. I feel like you've given me the tools I need to cope with stuff now. Thank you so much for your help, you have been more than I hoped for.'

'Rachael, it has been so helpful meeting with you and making sense of what I was thinking and feeling. It was just too much to sort out on my own. I get it now and know that I can deal with it and move on in my life. Thanks.'

'Seeing you has helped me to let go of the past and actually enjoy myself and look forward to the future. I feel more confident in myself, so meeting new people isn't so hard. Thank you so much for your help. I don't think I could have reached this stage without you.'

'Thank you Rachael for the help you've given me to get quality out of my life.  I'll never forget the kindness and compassion you showed me.'

'After counselling sessions I can now dream nice things.  It was hard to let hate go but now I can start to love again.  You have helped to unlock my hidden pain.'

'Thank you so much for all your support and encouragement over the past weeks.'

'Thank you for clearing away my issues.  Brushing them away to make me feel brand new.'

'Forever grateful Rachael.  Not always serious as there were plenty of laughs along the way'

Bristol, Gloucestershire, BS36

Type of session

In person

Types of client

Adults
Older adults
Rachael Sawyer
Rachael Sawyer