Sara Mathews
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This professional is accepting new clients but may have a waitlist. Please enquire with them directly to discuss availability.
This professional is accepting new clients but may have a waitlist. Please enquire with them directly to discuss availability.
About me
My name is Sara Mathews. I am a very experienced Counsellor/Therapist. I run a Private Practise from my office In Durham. I work on Zoom so I can see clients and supervisees from all over the country which I really enjoy. I've been practising for 17 years all told. If you're a reader you might enjoy my book "Living with Grief" that will give you a flavour of me and my way of working. You can find it on Amazon published by Routledge and the British Psychological Association.
I've been a therapist since 2009 and crucially have completed over 15,000 hours of client work. I don't just work with Loss, Change and Bereavement
I work with Family issues; Relationship difficulties and break down; Recovery from childhood trauma and abuse and a range of other things too. To me it's more about who you are, who I am and if it feels like a good fit between us. My belief is therapy is about:
- identifying what's wrong
- asking what's brough you to therapy at this particular time
- thinking about what you would like to be different
- working together in relationship to try and help you achieve those changes.
If you're not sure if your issues and my experience match up let's meet and talk about it.
I work online from my practise in Durham. I'm the person you want to work with when you feel hopeless and overwhelmed. I have learned that there are always things we can do to help ourselves cope better. It starts with building a relationship where you feel safe to talk. We can take things from there and together work out what the right approach for you might be. Some clients like lots of practical techniques, others need help in identifying and managing feelings. There is no " right" way to do therapy only the right way for you. I'm glad to say therapy doesn't always need to be intense and serious it can also be moving, exciting and even funny on occasion. A bit like life which can be all of those things and more!
Human beings are extraordinary and together we can work to help you find a way to live more comfortably with yourself. It can make a real difference. I got some nice feedback recently that might help you to decide if you want to get in touch with me...
"Sara puts you at ease straight away and has helped me understand and reflect on a lot of issues I’ve been experiencing. I would 100% recommend Sara, she’s helped me so much, it is genuinely one of the best thing I’ve ever done"
The theoretical bit
My initial training was primarily person centred. I still prioritise a relational approach and believe that the relationship between us can serve as a vehicle for exploration, healing and change. Nowadays I work relationally in combination with more psychodynamic approaches and an interest in Transactional Analysis. I can talk more about all or any of this when we meet if you need to understand more before making your choice of therapist.
Your first contact with me:
We can meet - free of charge and online for a 30 minute get to know each other session before you decide if you want to go ahead. It's important that you feel comfortable with me. If you email please remember to check your junk folder as well as your inbox for my reply.
Your first session:
Some things in life can't be changed. Things that have already happened to you. People you have lost. but what can change is you. We can talk through how you're feeling and what you want from your therapy. Sometimes it's a question of wanting to feel less overwhelmed and that's a good place to start. Most clients have fortnightly sessions which can be a more affordable option , and works better for me as I tend to be busy. We can talk that over when we meet.
Whatever the reason for coming to counselling we can spend time getting to know each other and figuring out what might be different and better and for you. Counselling isn't a magic bullet but I know from personal as well as professional experience that it really can make a difference. It did for me and because Ive been doing this work for a long time I have seen the difference it can make to many others. This might be your time?
Training, qualifications & experience
In the last 17 years I have completed over 15,000 hours of Counselling, working with hundreds of clients. I have managed Bereavement services in hospices and now work in private practise using those years of experience to help people struggling to come to terms with the pain and turmoil of bereavement, depression, relationship difficulties and abuse of any kind.
I am a Registered and Accredited member of the BACP. I have a BA (honours) in Counselling and am a qualified clinical supervisor. I have a Certificate in Online and Telephone Counselling from Counselling Tutor; an honours degree in Creative Arts and a post graduate Certificate in Education. I have a Certificate in Clinical and Creative Supervision.
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
Other areas of counselling I deal with
I know it can be helpful to have a list of things that a therapist can work with ( or not) but my preferred way of working would be to meet with you and discuss what you need and what's going on for you. That way both of us can figure out if I can be helpful to you. Therapy is a big emotional and financial comittment so it's important you make a decision you are comfortable with.
Therapies offered
Fees
£70.00 per session
Additional information
My fees are £70 per hour. I can accept you on to a waiting list if I am full and you can still contact me for a free Zoom chat but there will be a wait for sessions.
When I work
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I often work evenings and sometimes have a bit more availability then so do please get in touch. I also offer a waiting list.
Further information
You can learn more about me and my practise, read my blogs and contact me from my website: www.saramathewscounselling.co.uk
