Sara Bridson
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About me
Hello…
I have a friendly and relaxed approach and will welcome, without judgement, all parts of you. Like many therapists, my history with therapy began with seeking my own, which allowed me to experience the magic first hand. In light of this I operate with gratitude and humility; my professional expertise unquestionably supported by the personal awareness of what can occur within a therapeutic space, and the lasting and transformative impact it can have. What a privilege it is to invite you into this space with me.
I class myself as an integrative therapist with a person centred heart. This means I call upon a variety of psychotherapy models (depending on the needs and wishes of each client), but I hold the key values of empathy and unconditional positive regard for each client closely, alongside offering a genuine sense of myself.
My role is to offer and facilitate a space that gives you the freedom to be with yourself. Here you will be invited to meet and explore your honest heart, to become more familiar with all parts of yourself and their place in the world.
My approach is underpinned by the freeing power of 'multiplicity of mind' - that we are not one being with one view, but rather, we are each a complex system of personalities working towards the greater good of our whole being (oh hello, contradiction..!). I will warmly welcome, hear and honour each part of you, and offer you a space where you can, in turn, hear yourself.
I observe, I offer these observations lightly, I ask questions and I listen closely to my own intuition, but I believe fully that you are the expert in your own life and as such I will never claim to 'know better', nor will I dictate your process, your pace or the content of our sessions.
Clients often describe the therapeutic process leading to a greater understanding of themselves, which can enhance and empower their decision making for the future. Therapy is not easy, but I do believe it can open the door to living more peacefully, with greater intent, kindness and purpose.
Training, qualifications & experience
I began my career as a secondary school teacher before retraining as a postgraduate level 7 person centred counsellor and psychotherapist. As a teacher I was always fascinated by (and sought to engage) the person behind the pupil. Specifically honouring this now and being able to work in this manner is a privilege.
Our childhood doesn’t just stay in childhood, therefore I have a keen interest in the developmental years and how our earliest relationships and experiences play their role in shaping our character, self belief, self view, decision making and relational responses. Attachment Theory plays a huge role in everything I offer. With this in mind, I offer gentle and respectful companionship if/when we explore these influences and their past and present day impact. This exploration is always an invitation, and never expected or pushed.
I am both Mental Health First Aid (MFA England) and ASIST Applied Suicide Intervention (Papyrus) trained.
I have also completed training in the Penn Resilience Programme, which is evidence based and focuses on building resilience, well-being and optimism in all walks of life.
Increasingly, a passion for, and whole hearted belief in, the healing power of the Internal Family Systems model (IFS) - the view that we are all made up of 'sub-personalities' or 'parts' - has influenced my work and what I offer to my clients. In my personal and professional experience, I find welcoming and offering a space to hear all parts of ourselves to be deeply freeing.
I play close attention to our autonomic nervous systems, underpinned by Polyvagal Theory, and invite exploration of our changing 'states' into our therapy room together.
I have worked closely with teenagers and young adults since 2007. The majority of my clients are age 16-30 and my teaching background leads me to I feeling particularly drawn to supporting young people during these transitional years. Older clients are also always warmly welcomed; I invite contact from clients of any age or background.
My clients bring a variety of difficulties, often presenting in a variety of different ways, including (but not limited to) anxiety, depression, stress, relationship problems, repetitive behaviours, low self-esteem, sexuality exploration, addiction, bereavement, disconnection from self, self harm, suicidal thoughts, trauma, attachment issues, self doubt/dislike/loathing, confusion, maternal/paternal difficulties, fertility issues... The list is endless and very human. Having a safe space to engage in self exploration can be life changing for ourselves and for those around us.
I hold an enhanced DBS certificate and I am a registered member of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). As such, I follow their code for ethical practice and my work is supervised as required by the BACP as a regulatory body. I also engage in annual safeguarding and child protection training and work closely with the local CAMHS team.
Member organisations
BACP is one of the UK’s leading professional bodies for counselling and psychotherapy with around 60,000 members. The Association has several different categories of membership, including Student Member, Individual Member, Registered Member MBACP, Registered Accredited Member MBACP (Accred) and Senior Registered Accredited Member MBACP (Snr Acccred).
Registered and accredited members are listed on the BACP Register, which shows that they have demonstrated BACP’s recommended standards for training, proficiency and ethical practice. The BACP Register was the first register of psychological therapists to be accredited by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA).
Accredited and senior accredited membership are voluntary categories for members who choose to undertake a rigorous application and assessment process to demonstrate additional standards around practice, training and supervision.
Individual members will have completed an appropriate counselling or psychotherapy course and started to practise, but they won’t appear on the BACP Register until they've demonstrated that they meet the standards for registration. Student members are still in the process of completing their training.
All members are bound by the BACP Ethical Framework and a Professional Conduct Procedure.
Areas of counselling I deal with
Therapies offered
Fees
£55.00 - £60.00
Free initial telephone session
Concessions offered for
Additional information
I invite us to look at our joint availability to see what's possible; you may have a block of time in mind or you may prefer to work in an open ended way - both options are welcome.
Students are offered a concessionary rate of £55.
When I work
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I am unfortunately unable to offer appointments after 4pm.
I welcome early morning appointments - please enquire if this might suit you.
Further information
A sense of connection underpins the therapeutic process and is at the heart of the trusting relationship I aim to offer and build together with you.
I will invite us to 'meet' on the telephone before we decide to work together so we can learn a little more about each other. You will be invited to tell me a little of what brings you to therapy, what you're looking for and how I might be able to help.
My therapy room has a peaceful atmosphere and is based at The Cornerstone in the heart of Lancaster.
If you would like to make contact, please email me.
