Sarah Laing
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This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
Who am I?
I am a senior counsellor at MAC Counselling & Wellbeing; I have been described as being a calm presence and ‘down to earth’, with a quiet drive and passion. These are the words of others, but I wholeheartedly take this on board as part of my ‘way of being’ and like to think I take these traits with me as a counsellor. I passionately believe we all have the power within us to discover, challenge and heal issues which impact on our sense of wellbeing. My aim, as a counsellor, is to offer safe and grounded support for my clients as they discover and navigate into their authentic ‘way of being’.
My Approach:
My counselling practice is integrative; working with a foundation of Person-Centred Counselling and supported by Mental Health and Wellbeing Coaching. I offer clients a ‘whole person’ perspective’, with an intention to actively listen and empathically understand the unique experiences of each individual. Together we can explore past life events, relationships and issues which impact present day wellbeing, gaining insight and clarity to take forward to thrive in a self-determined future.
It is my firm belief that my client is the expert in their own life, therefore, my practice is grounded in the stability of the therapeutic relationship between myself and my client. I strive to provide a space where clients feel safe, respected, and valued, with the freedom to express themselves openly without judgement. My purpose is to be guided by my client’s specific needs and desires for personal growth and walk alongside them on their wellbeing journey; offering appropriate tools, techniques, and resources to encourage personal development, foster self-empowerment and the motivational creation of choice.
Experience and Training:
Sarah has a Post Graduate Diploma in Person-Centred Counselling and an Advanced Diploma in Mental Health and Wellbeing Coaching and is a member of registered member of BACP and EMCC.
She has gained a great deal of diverse experience counselling in private practice and in the third sector where she has developed and delivered CPD training and workshops.
Sarah attends in regular supervision to ensure ethical practice and is driven to expand her knowledge and skills in the field of counselling and psychotherapy, attending regular training events and keeping up to date with progressive research in mental health and wellbeing.
What my clients say:
"Sarah is not only extremely professional and knowledgeable in her field, but she is also one of the most kind, compassionate and approachable individuals I have met. I felt like I could be 100% myself in my sessions."
"Sarah is extremely knowledgeable in her field and her professionalism is beyond doubt".
“Sarah has offered me patience and support in a place where I can freely work through my troubles. Now, after 9 months of working with Sarah, I am aiming to return to university to finish my degree with confidence and I’m able to manage my feelings on my own. Sometimes you need to listen to your own thoughts, but sometimes you need someone else to listen first.”
“I honestly didn’t know what to expect going into therapy, but Sarah has made my experience extremely worthwhile. I have discovered so much about myself thanks to Sarah, for example, learning to listen to my own core wants and needs. Sarah has really helped me overcome my concerns, providing me with a completely new outlook and I can't be more thankful.”
Training, qualifications & experience
Qualifications:
- Diploma in Person Centred Counselling (distinction) - University of Aberdeen.
- Advanced Diploma in Mental Health and Wellbeing Coaching (distinction) - Kingstown College; Dublin.
- COSCA Counselling Skills Certificate, Modules 1-4 - University of Aberdeen.
Experience:
- ACIS (Mental Health Aberdeen) Staff Counsellor.
- ACIS Counselling Training - ACIS Aberdeen.
- Development and delivery of CPD training.
- ACIS Counselling Training for new volunteers.
Recent Training:
- Clinical Applications of Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapy - PESI UK
- ICF Accredited NLP Training
- Healing Complex PTSD: The Brain Science of Recovery - Mindbody Breakthrough (Wale Oladipo).
- ADHA Awareness Diploma, New Skills Academy.
- Child Sexual Abuse: Hope for Healing - Carolyn Spring.
- Working with Relational Trauma: Dealing with Disorganized Attachment - Carolyn Spring.
- Dissociation and DID: The Fundamentals - Carolyn Spring.
- Dealing with Distress: Working with Suicide and Self-Harm - Carolyn Spring.
- Solution Focused Brief Counselling - Elliot Connie.
- Coaching for Confidence - Kingstown College; Dublin.
- Existential Contributions to Counselling and Psychotherapy -Mick Cooper.
- Relational Depth in Counselling and Psychotherapy - Mick Cooper.
- Understanding Depression and Anxiety - Open University.
- Attachment in the Early Years - Open University.
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
From £60.00
Additional information
Limited number of lower cost sessions, please ask for more details.
When I work
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