Sarah Layton

When life is challenging, or something has happened that has upset the usual order of things, a big transition or change perhaps, you can find yourself feeling anxious, frustrated, unsure, sad, dissatisfied or stuck, lacking purpose, and wondering which way to turn. 

You might struggle along for a while, trying to feel better, managing with the coping strategies you've always used.  And for a while this can work. 

But there may come a point when it doesn’t, when you recognise the patterns or behaviours you've relied on are no longer supporting you, but don’t yet know what will. 

This is a good moment to seek therapy; to talk to someone who's a good listener, is in your corner and impartial.

As both psychotherapist and coach I have particular experience in working with women experiencing transition, anger or rage, sadness, burnout, loss and poor self esteem.  I bring these ways of working together to support you to consider yourself deeply, find clarity, gain useful emotional life skills and find your way forward.

How I work

I’m warm, empathetic, encouraging, passionate and committed, and I bring these qualities, together with my integrity and creativity, to my work. 

I know that you already have within you the keys to finding your way forward, and it's my role to walk alongside you as you do.  Our work is collaborative, for you, and our conversation is unlike anything you might have with a friend.  

I'll listen carefully and share feedback when I notice something I think is helpful to you, supporting you to gain clarity and greater understanding of yourself. 

I'll also support you to connect with your physical experience and become aware of your nervous system as a way to know yourself better and make strong decisions, 

Through therapy you’ll discover your strengths, connect with your intuition and learn to make choices that really support you.  

ADHD

If you have a diagnosis of ADHD, or are wondering whether you have ADHD, therapy with me can help.  Together we'll explore how you live your life and consider the strategies that will support you to manage effectively. I have a close family member with the condition and suspect that I also have it.  I am not yet diagnosed however. 

Burnout

Burnout is created when we push through our natural limiting factors and keep going.  Too far.  We over-ride the signals we’re being given by our nervous systems and find ourselves feeling low, experiencing physical symptoms and just not coping with our lives.  We might have panic attacks, feel got at at work, struggle to keep relationships going and feel under terrible pressure.  And we don't stop.  Until our bodies don’t let us keep going anymore.

Coming back from burnout is a process that takes compassion and understanding for ourselves, we need to be kind and patient, learning to recognise how we got there in the first place and what we need to recover.  An understanding of the nervous system and sensitivity is helpful.   Burnout can be connected with being Highly Sensitive - see below. 

High Sensitivity

It is thought that 20% of us are highly sensitive.  That is we find experiences and places that other people are not bothered by, too much.   We may have been told we are too sensitive, or over sensitive or shy.  

You may be an HSP if you: 

• are you easily overwhelmed by such things as bright lights, strong smells, coarse fabrics, or sirens nearby.
• get rattled when you have a lot to do in a short amount of time.
• make a point of avoiding violent movies and TV shows.
• need to withdraw during busy days, into bed or a darkened room or some other place where you can have privacy and relief from the situation.
• make it a high priority to arrange your life to avoid upsetting or overwhelming situations.
• notice or enjoy delicate or fine scents, tastes, sounds, or works of art.
• have a rich and complex inner life.

I am an HSP and I love to work with others who have the same challenges.  Being highly sensitive is a Super-power once we recognise and understand ourselves.  

See https://hsperson.com for more information.  

Creativity

The loss of creativity can be depressing and baffling.  It can come about when we spend too little time making space for ourselves and too much looking after others or working.  Bringing our creativity back is a process that takes compassion and understanding.

Boundary Setting

When we have healthy boundaries and set them we feel empowered and capable, we respect ourselves and experience that respect from others.  We keep space in our lives for what matters to us. 

As women we are taught to be ‘nice’, to be helpful and kind and we often learn to do this to the detriment of ourselves.  It can be very hard to say ‘no’ however it’s important to realise that when we say ‘no’ to something we don’t want to do we say ‘yes’ to ourselves.  

I can help you learn to set boundaries and support you as you take that learning into your day to day life. 

Anger and Frustration

Anger is a creative force - we need it.  And even so many of us are taught that it’s ugly and we shouldn’t express it.    Yet it's that very injunction, to be nice not angry, that makes us even angrier.  

What’s important is to find ways of acknowledging and processing our anger safely and without involving others so we can get on with our lives feeling empowered.  I can support you to learn to do this. 

Critical Voices

So many of us limit ourselves because we listen to the voices in our head that tell us we’re not enough, we’re getting it wrong or we’re too much.  These voices often have a grain of truth but when we listen, and act, on them we limit ourselves and our lives and are prevented from taking actions that would really support us. I have techniques I can share, and experience in supporting you to manage these voices.

Relationship with food and body image

Our relationship with food is formed very young and society’s expectations can cause great difficulty, as can how we feel about our body.  These are subjects in which I am very interested and have personal experience and training.  

Therapy sessions last 50 minutes and take place online at weekly intervals.  The fee is £80.  I live near Wallingford, Oxfordshire and expect, from May 2025, to work in person from my home.  Do let me know if this is something you would like.   

When you enquire we’ll first have a brief phone chat to set up a time for our initial session.    The initial session is an opportunity to see how working together would feel and discuss what’s bringing you to therapy and how I can help.   It’s charged for in advance so I will send you a link to pay together with a Zoom link once we have arranged our time.