Sarah Fay Taylor
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About me
Welcome. This page is where I update my availability and therapeutic service. I also share how counselling can help, how I work, my qualifications, as well as areas/issues I have experience or specific training in. Please take your time to read through this information as it may answer your questions. Email any queries, or if you wish to arrange a FREE 20 minute consultation call.
- Please note: I currently work online with anyone in the UK/beyond (please state where you are based), with no waiting list.
- I am forming a short waiting list (1-2 weeks) for in-person clients able to travel to my venue. I am launching face-to-face working at a beautiful, tranquil venue: The Sanctuary (https://sanctuarytherapycentre.co.uk/), in Central Prestwich, North Manchester - see the bottom of my profile for more information.
How can counselling help you?
Are you feeling sad, fearful, anxious or a loss of enthusiasm for aspects of your life?
Do you find it difficult to talk about your thoughts and feelings with others?
Are these experiences impacting on your day-to-day life, self-confidence, health, or relationships?
Counselling can also be supportive through a ‘transition point’ in your life. For example, this may be a change in your health or work life, coming to terms with an event(s) from your past, relocation, a sudden loss or bereavement, or changes in your relationship(s).
Counselling can be helpful for exploring and understanding these experiences, alongside so much more.
I have worked frequently with:
- Bereavement, grief, loss (including relationship loss/endings).
- LGBTQIA+ (I offer an affirmative and knowledgeable space)
- Young people aged 18-25, including students
- Older people (including those widowed or living alone)
- Neurodivergence (including Autism & ADHD) and highly sensitive/empathic individuals
- Relationship(s) or intimacy issues
- Those living with chronic health conditions
Please contact me if you’d like to discuss specific needs/goals. Often people come to counselling with a variety of circumstances or issues.
I uphold the view that aspects of your experience may be impacted by external and social factors – for example economic status, culture, gender identity, sex, perceived body image/presentation, transphobia, homophobia, racism, ageism or ableism.
All is welcome in our work together, including naming and exploring these factors or parts of your experience.
What type of counselling or therapy do I offer?
Primarily, I am a Person-Centred practitioner, which means that your needs and personal goals come first. I believe every individual has the capacity to heal, but many circumstances and stressors - externally and personally - can hinder this ability. I am here to help illuminate your path.
What does this mean? Well, I aim to provide a warm, accepting, non-judgemental atmosphere. Sharing emotional experiences or thoughts in this way can be deeply healing and often sufficient, without the application of techniques. I can help you to find your own solutions or opportunities for growth.
However, as an Integrative Counsellor, I recognise that for some individuals techniques or supportive practices can be helpful. We will collaborate in finding what works for you. Some of these techniques and resources can go with you beyond the therapy room, into your life.
For example, I can offer:
- Methods for managing emotional overwhelm, anxiety, stress, or intrusive thoughts;
- Mindfulness practices to bring calm and self-awareness;
- Creative exploration, such as therapeutic writing or guided visualisation.
- I can also help you to identify patterns in your relationships, or in your reactions/responses to events, in the past or present. It is possible to "re-wire" this patterning through self-understanding.
I aim to embed a trauma-informed approach. All resources and techniques are optional, based on your interest and consent. We will work collaboratively to adapt these to your needs and desired pace.
Single session counselling: In cases where it is suitable - by discussion, I can offer a single session, applying a solutions-focused approach in collaboration with you. Sometimes a one-off session can be excellent for deepening understanding, facilitating closure or resolution in some area of your life. Please note the one-off fee below.
This will be 1 hour in length. It is best to come with a clear issue or challenge that you feel can be explored sufficiently and safely in 1 hour. This is not recommended for complex, trauma-based or highly distressing issues, as these would benefit from longer term work together.
If any of the above appeals – or if you have any questions:
- Please email me
- Set up a FREE consultation call of up to 20 minutes.
Please note I can only work with those aged 18 or over.
Availability and Format for Sessions
I am available weekday mornings and afternoons, with some limited early evening appointments. I do not work weekends at present, though this may be negotiable.
I can begin working remotely with you within a few days of our initial free consultation, with no waiting list at present. We can transition into face-to-face working also, if you wish, and are able to travel to my venue.
To work with me at The Sanctuary, Prestwich: please allow 1-2 weeks maximum from our initial free consultation for scheduling.
Training, qualifications & experience
I graduated in 2023 with a distinction at Master’s level in Integrative Counselling at Bangor University, North Wales. I apply a mix of influences and training to my practice based on what may help you; for example with a person-centred foundation I draw from psychodynamic theory, mindfulness, attachment/relational and solutions-focused therapy.
I recently trained with Trauma Therapy Manchester. I am now offering simple and effective techniques for nervous system and emotional regulation, based on the latest neuroscience, mindfulness, and body-based techniques.
I am a member of the BACP, whose ethical guidance and professional standards I embed within my practice. I am committed to continuing my professional learning and development, and work with a supervisor to ensure my ongoing professional standards and ethical/safe practice.
From 2022-2023 alongside providing remote counselling to young people aged 18-25 via The Mix, London; I completed several months of delivering in-person bereavement and grief-focused psychotherapy, via the NHS in Salford.
Prior to this I provided counselling at a community centre in North Wales, supporting adults and young people with a variety of complex needs and circumstances, including crisis recovery. Here, I also ran popular therapeutic creative writing sessions.
My prior career was therapeutic, educational and health-related in focus. Much of this work was NHS-funded and focused on psychological and physical rehabilitation within a variety of indoor and outdoor community settings.
I have training in non-violent and active listening communication, which can facilitate transformative communication in a variety of personal and professional relationships.
I am also a trained Natural Mindfulness & Nature Connection Guide, informing the development of my future Eco-therapy practice. I hope to offer 'walk-and-talk' and nature-based counselling in the near future.
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
£50.00 per session
Concessions offered for
Additional information
Single session counselling - 65.00 per 60 minutes for 1 session (no continuation/contract). Please email to arrange a free consultation to discuss whether this style of counselling is suited to your current needs.
My standard 50.00 fee covers 50 minutes of counselling, over a pre-agreed number of sessions.
When I work
I am available weekday mornings and afternoons, with some limited early evening appointments. I do not work weekends at present, though this may be negotiable.
Further information
Venue for face-to-face Counselling & therapy
I have recently relocated into the North Manchester area and am researching suitable venues for my client's needs. I would love to hear from you about this if you have any specific requirements e.g. accessibility.
Below is one of possibly two venues I will be using for face-to-face sessions in North Manchester (Bury/Radcliffe/Prestwich areas).
The Sanctuary, central Prestwich on Bury New Road
https://sanctuarytherapycentre.co.uk/
Scroll down in the Gallery to Room: Nirvana to see the lovely space you will be welcomed into for our sessions.
Travel: This venue is on main bus routes into the city centre, Salford and to Bury. It is also a 12-15 minute easy walk from Prestwich metro stop (approx 20 minutes to/from central locations e.g. Victoria, Shudehill & Piccadilly are all direct fast lines to/from Prestwich). There is off-road parking space for clients to use on site. See the website for more information or drop me an email.
