About me
I'm glad you're here.
Therapy with me offers you a place where you can be your real self; you won't have to pretend to feel a certain way, you won't have to censor yourself, or say things you don't actually think or feel. I'll welcome you just as you are. Over time we'll explore your problems, at your own pace, and understand what change can be realistically achieved.
Being listened to compassionately, by a trained and experienced professional, can be very meaningful, and is often such a relief. It's very different to the support you may be getting from AI and Apps. Whilst these are fantastically helpful resources, they aren't (yet!) the same as a relationship with a real human in real time. Clients I've worked with have gone on to experience:
- less isolation, as they learn that they're not alone in how they feel
- an understanding of how the past has impacted the present
- more compassion towards themselves and others
- the confidence to experiment with new ways of being in the world
- new ways to calm and sooth themselves when they're in distress
- an appreciation of the strengths, resilience and coping strategies that have enabled them to get where they are today
- more honest and satisfying relationships
I'm an integrative counsellor, which means I'm trained to integrate different theories into the work of counselling, dependent on what might be most helpful to you. I really enjoy doing this in a collaborative way that takes into account all the strengths you already have.
I work with many different clients, but I have particular experience and training in anxiety, low self esteem, relationship difficulties, loss and life transitions, sexual abuse, trauma, pregnancy and birth (including birth trauma, the death of a baby, abortion, termination, miscarriage and childlessness).
I am currently training to be a couples therapist. I am supervised by an experienced couples therapist and have lengthy experience of working with couples over the course of my career, particularly around the pregnancy, birth and postnatal period. I'm offering couples work at £50 per hour whilst in training.
I'm happy to make reasonable adjustments to ensure counselling is accessible to all clients. For example I can adjust lighting, seating, and arrival arrangements. I can ensure eye contact is mimimised and you can get up and walk around the room at any time.
I offer sessions face to face or online, weekly or fortnightly (and other arrangements as requested) on Wednesdays and Fridays.
I also offer sessions in green spaces around S7 and S8 (eg Ecclesall Woods, Hutcliffe Woods, Millhouses Park, Meersbrook Park) subject to availability. These can be walk and talk sessions, or sitting in an outside environment.
If you think you might want to work with me please email me or WhatsApp me with a brief outline of why you are thinking of counselling - a couple of sentences, more if you want -I'll be pleased to hear from you. Feel free to ask me any questions that you may have at this stage too.
If you would like to take it further we can arrange either a free 20 minute Zoom or phone call or a half price (£25) trial session (face to face or on Zoom).
During the 20 minute Zoom call I'll ask how you'd like to use the time. If you're not sure I'll invite you to share:
- a little about how you're feeling at the moment
- what you think you might want to get out of counselling
- if you've had any therapeutic support before and if so, what was helpful or not helpful
- if you've any questions for me. Some people ask me to describe how I work, or have practical questions
At the end of the 20 mins you might not be sure what to do next - that's fine. I'll encourage you to take your time making your decision. If you get a good feeling you might like to make an arrangement for a first session there and then!
During a half price trial session I'll do similar to the above, but we'll have longer to explore what's important to you. You might feel you need to tell me alot quite quickly, or you might feel shy or anxious. Rest assured I'm experienced at putting you at ease and pacing the session so it helps you make a decision about what to do next.
For couples work both clients will be included in all communication and sessions from the outset, so please include them if making contact with me.
I look forward to hearing from you!
Training, qualifications & experience
Alongside my private counselling I'm a counsellor and manager at a charity that supports people who've been sexually abused. Some clients want a space to talk about what happened to them in the past, others are looking for support with how life is for them now. Common themes in the work include challenges in relationships, self identity, hopelessness, lack of trust and the symptoms of trauma such as anxiety, self harm and suicidal ideation. I work in a trauma informed, client led way to avoid retraumatisation during and between counselling sessions.
I’ve had over 12 years experience of working with adults (men, women, LGBT+ and solo parents) as they navigate pregnancy, birth and early parenthood. I know a lot about the challenges of feeding babies, adapting to new roles, grieving past lives, and struggling with the reality of providing 24/7 care. I have a special interest in working with mums (including non birthing mums) and dads, who have experienced a baby dying during pregnancy or after birth, miscarriage, abortion and termination for medical reasons. I’ve worked for NCT (the UK’s largest parenting charity), NHS and local authorities in non-clinical roles.
I’ve been a Cruse bereavement volunteer where I experienced how each person’s grief journey is complex, unique and lifelong. Using grief theory, and a strengths-based approach, I offered clients the opportunity to explore how life can be lived whilst grieving.
Selected qualifications and recent professional development (for more see my facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/samrobbkingcounselling):
- Fundamentals of working with couples. NCIP. 2026
- Reflective writing in counselling and psychotherapy. Words for Wellness 2026
- Foundation for infant loss training. 2026.
- Certificate in working therapeutically with autistic clients. Counselling Tutor. 2025
- Defining gender, sex and relationship diversity therapy. Pink Therapy. 2024
- Pre trial therapy: Inspire CPD 2022, Bluestar 2024 and Survivor's Network 2026
- Managing anxiety without medication. Human Givens. 2024
- The challenge of racism in therapeutic practice. BAATN. 2024
- Professional diploma in psychotherapy and counselling. NCPS. 2023
- Birth trauma training programme. Make Birth Better. 2023
- Counselling parents and families following pregnancy loss and the death of a baby. SANDS. 2023
- Cruse bereavement volunteer training. Cruse. 2022
- Carolyn Springs trauma training programme. 2022
- NCT Antenatal Teacher, Breastfeeding Counsellor, Supervisor. Level 5 Diploma 2015
- MA Environment, Culture and Society. Lancaster University. 1999
- BA (Hons) Theatre and Performance Studies. Warwick University. 1998
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.
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.
Areas of counselling I deal with
Other areas of counselling I deal with
Breastfeeding grief and trauma
Photos & videos
Fees
£45.00 - £50.00
Concessions offered for
Additional information
If paying my advertised rates will make it impossible for you to attend I'll be very happy to have a conversation about what you can afford, and what I can offer.
When I work
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Further information
My work is influenced by 3 main therapeutic theories:
Person centred philosophy - a belief that you know yourself best and have the capacity for positive change. If you've already got some ideas on what's helping you feel good about life we can build on this, if you haven't we can explore ideas together.
A belief that relationships make a difference to how you feel - when relationships in your life have been beset by problems, often outside of your control, life can feel very hard. A safe therapeutic relationship can provide the potential to start to heal from the hurt they may have caused.
Trauma informed working - If trauma has impacted you I'll ensure whatever approach we take has one objective - to support you to feel better. If you feel talking about what happened will help, I'll ensure the sessions are paced so you feel safe and stable throughout our time together. If you choose not to speak about what happened to you I'll respect that - there's evidence that it doesn't benefit everyone to do so.
