Sara Kirkpatrick
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This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
Hello, and welcome to my page. You may be here because you are needing support with emotions, thoughts or behaviour patterns that are making life feel hard.
Perhaps you are living with grief in the aftermath of bereavement, miscarriage or other loss, such as the end of a relationship or job.
You might be overwhelmed by trying to manage feelings of anxiety, anger, depression or low self-esteem, and the unhelpful thoughts that go with it. This can leave you numb to the joy and excitement in life.
Maybe there is a sense of loneliness, or being out of step with the world, which makes it difficult to understand yourself and feel like you belong.
When it’s like this, it can be difficult to find perspective on what needs to change, or even believe that things can be different for you.
How counselling can help
It can be helpful to talk to someone who is not already involved in your life, in a safe, supportive, non-judgemental and confidential space.
As a trained, experienced, BACP-Accredited counsellor I can help you explore what’s happening, notice patterns and understand the connections between your experiences and the way you feel and act. This can open up possibilities for change, making different choices and ideas for getting unstuck.
Counselling with me
I practise humanistic therapy, which means I believe we are all unique individuals who respond to, and make meaning of our experiences in different ways. I believe we all have the capacity for change, and that there is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ answer, so I will work collaboratively with you to find the right approach to meet your needs.
I have particular experience working with grief and loss, patterns in relationships, loneliness, fertility issues, low self-esteem, anger, anxiety and trauma.
It might be that you know exactly what you want to talk about in your sessions, however if it is difficult to know where to start, I can offer questions that might help. I also have additional training in creative arts facilitation with the Association for Person-Centred Creative Arts (APCCA) and the Creative Counsellors network, so I sometimes suggest using art, image work and guided visualisations. Not all clients want to do this, but some find it helpful when it’s difficult to find words for what needs our attention.
Introductory appointment
I understand that making the decision to come to counselling can be daunting, and there are many counsellors to choose from. That’s why I offer a free first appointment, to see how it is to meet, and talk through how our sessions could be helpful.
Contact me by email or phone if you would like to know more. Our initial meeting is free. Further sessions cost £50-£60 for 50 minutes, depending on income. I am committed to offering some spaces at a reduced fee when concession rates are needed. If you have any questions about fees, or anything else, please get in touch.
Training, qualifications & experience
I am a qualified, BACP Accredited counsellor offering individual therapy. I hold a Post-Graduate Diploma in Humanistic Therapeutic Counselling from the University of Brighton. I also have a certificate in Creative Arts facilitation with the Association for Person Centred Creative Arts (APCCA). In addition to private practice I have also worked for a local community based counselling service that specialises in depression, stress and anxiety.
My particular areas of experience and training include:
- grief / loss
- loneliness
- childhood neglect
- relationship issues
- anxiety
- anger
- low self-esteem
- trauma
- infertility / childlessness
- critical thoughts
Before working as a counsellor I worked for several years in support services including mental health peer support, women's services, and with adults with learning disabilities.
I am committed to my Continuous Professional Development, including training courses, workshops and on-going supervision. This is in keeping with the BACP Ethical Framework.
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.
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.
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
Therapies offered
Fees
£50.00 - £60.00
Free initial in-person, telephone or online session
Concessions offered for
Additional information
Free initial session to find out more and to see how we could work together.
Further sessions cost £50-£60 for 50 minutes, depending on income. I am committed to offering some spaces at reduced rates when concessions are needed, so please ask.
When I work
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Day time, evening and Saturday morning appointments are available, short and long term work.