Sarah Griggs
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This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
At times we all experience challenges in life, whether they be isolated situations or ongoing difficulties. These can feel overwhelming and may cause increased stress levels and constant worry, and can interfere with our sleeping, eating and general mood. They can lead to difficult feelings such as sadness, depression, anxiety, anger, isolation, loneliness, low self-esteem and low self-confidence. Relationships may become difficult.
I am an experienced therapist working with adults. I provide a safe, confidential and non-judgemental space for you to be listened to and understood, where your thoughts and feelings can be expressed and will be respected. Having the opportunity to talk, to feel seen and heard, can enable you to gain a better understanding of yourself. The aim is to improve your ability to cope with present and future difficulties and support your personal development and growth.
At the core of counselling is the relationship between you and your counsellor, an important relationship in which you feel comfortable and can talk freely and share your thoughts and experiences at the pace you wish. I will listen in a warm and thoughtful way, without judgement, and together, we will work to help you process and understand the difficulties you are facing.
How I work
My approach is psychodynamic. That mean that together we will explore your feelings, challenges and fears by understanding that they can have their roots in past experiences. Sometimes, making links with things that have happened before can help us to understand how they have shaped our current feelings and behaviours and to recognise any unhelpful or repeating patterns.
I offer open-ended therapy, where the number of sessions isn't fixed but determined by your needs. I also offer short-term therapy if there are one or two specific issues that you would like to work on. Sessions are for a period of 50 minutes on a weekly basis, always at the same time on the same day.
I have a private practice, working from my therapy room close to the centre of St Albans, and from therapy spaces in both Luton and Wheathampstead. All have nearby free parking and are accessible by public transport. I also offer therapy online or via telephone.
What to expect in your first session
This will be an initial consultation. The aim is to provide you with an opportunity to meet me and to get a feel for the style of counselling I offer, so that you can make an informed decision about whether to continue. It would also provide me with an opportunity to gather some information about you and consider your main aims concerns. This will ensure that I am able to meet your specific needs.
Please contact me if you would like to arrange an initial consultation, and we can arrange a mutually convenient day and time to meet.
Training, qualifications & experience
- Advanced Diploma in Psychodynamic Counselling (BACP Accredited)
- Diploma in Psychodynamic Counselling (BACP Accredited)
- Foundation Certificate in Psychodynamic Counselling (BACP Accredited)
As well as my private practice, I work for a charitable organisation that seeks to promote the access of mental health to all communities.
As a registered member of the BACP, I work in accordance with their Standards of Good Practice and Code of Ethics. As part of this, I have regular clinical supervision and carry out continuous personal and professional development, regularly attending a broad range of seminars.
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.
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
£65.00 per session
Concessions offered for
When I work
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