Sarah Carter

If you are noticing overwhelming emotions or a sense of sadness, distress or imbalance, it can help to have someone to meet you right where you are at this point in life’s journey. The time spent in therapy varies according to personal need and can be a long-term commitment or just a few sessions. I offer daytime, evening and occasionally weekend appointments that are in-person, online or by 'phone. We can meet weekly, fortnightly or by arrangement. I provide an initial 15-minute call in order to understand your needs and expectations of therapy. Please contact me via the email button to arrange a call. PLEASE CHECK IN JUNK MAIL FOR REPLIES TO YOUR ENQUIRY .

As a counselling therapist from a person-centred background, I work with adults and young people (16+) to establish a supportive, non-judgmental relationship where you feel safe to tell your story. From this base we can collaborate to explore, understand and clarify issues or behaviour that can be troubling, challenging and sometimes painful. We might consider past events, current situations or future choices.

These could include thoughts and feelings around relationships, the burden or responsibility of caring for others, difficult decisions or uncomfortable experiences, loss and bereavement, anger and guilt. Clients might describe or explore symptoms associated with anger, anxiety, depression or trauma.

I have a special interest in supporting people living with, or caring for those with complex or life limiting disease (for example dementia, MND or MS), the bereaved, those in a parenting role or who have experienced infant loss. The experience of loss,  or roles such as parent or long term carer, can drain your resources, weigh you with feelings of guilt, sadness or anger, and challenge the value you place in yourself.

Young people face their own unique challenges; I offer an experienced, qualified and safe space where adolescents (16+) can explore and make sense of life today. Teenage anxiety and depression, study stresses, relationship expectations and personal identity are among the many issues young clients bring.  

Where appropriate we might integrate a variety of techniques including creative exploration. Throughout the process your individual experience is acknowledged, valued and held as the focus of our time together.

Some clients want to focus on a single issue, this might be around making a choice or making personal sense of something. Short-term work of between 3-6 sessions might be sufficient in these situations, whether it stands alone or can offer a valuable set of 'steppingstones', where a client might engage in a series of shorter, individual counselling relationships over a period of time. You might picture this as wanting to open and deal with one box of 'stuff' at a time, while other clients may decide they need to clear out the whole attic, opening many boxes, sometimes dealing with the contents of each separately, and sometimes making unexpected connections; this work can take longer and is regularly reviewed, the choice to continue, pause or end safely is yours.

At the outset, a client may not know what they want to do, beyond experiencing a sense that something is unsettling them right now; taking a person-centred approach allows us to construct a bespoke relationship where you can feel valued, heard and free to find a way forward in whatever time that takes.

Click on the 'email me' link above to make first contact.  Provide a brief outline of your counselling needs, a sentence or two including whether you prefer to work face to face, on-line or by phone, and I will contact you to arrange a 15-minute phone chat. From here you may decide to book a no obligation initial assessment session. This and all future appointments currently cost £45 per 50-minute session.  PLEASE CHECK YOUR JUNK MAIL FOR REPLIES TO YOUR ENQUIRY.

There are many styles of counselling and individual personalities within the therapeutic profession. It is important to take time to find the relationship that  suits your personal needs. if that might be me, I look forward to hearing from you.

• Carers of people with life limiting illness
• working with adolescents (16+)
• living with long-term illness
• bereavement and loss
• parenting roles.

Fees for 2022/3 are £45 per 50-minute session, payable 24 hours in advance.

Free 15-minute initial phone call.  Email me, briefly outlining your counselling needs, and I will contact you to arrange a call to discuss how we might work together on your issues. 

No obligation initial session. Following our call, you may choose to book an initial session in person, by phone or video link. This costs £45, there is no obligation to contract for further sessions. It is important that you find the right therapist for you, and a full initial session is probably the best way to see if that might be me.  

I offer face to face, video link or telephone sessions. In-person work takes place in residential CO3, with onsite parking.

Clients wishing to work less frequently (e.g. fortnightly/ ad hoc) can now access 'phone or video sessions.

 I have upcoming  availability for daytime sessions for new clients from June 2023, and limited evening/weekend appointments.