Sarah Stansfield
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This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
I am a qualified Child, Adolescent & Adult Psychotherapist & Counsellor with 20 years therapeutic experience. I run a practice called “RUAH” (Hebrew for ‘Breath, Life, Soul’), a community interest company (CIC), offering integrative psychotherapy & counselling to:
- adults
- young people (13-18)
- children (4-12)
& equine-guided psychotherapy to young people and adults.
MY APPROACH
My approach draws on the understanding that we are relational at heart: we are created to connect to ourselves, to others and to our wider environment. When these connections are ruptured, through misattunement, neglect, trauma or abuse, we protect ourselves by building defences that, though initially necessary, may begin to hinder our capacity to live fully. I believe that healing occurs best in the presence of an understanding, compassionate, attuned person who is able to offer a reparative experience and guide you towards wholeness. My role is to create a safe, containing therapeutic space for you to be able to explore the issues that are impeding life. Working at your pace, I can support you in deciding on any changes you might choose to make, enabling you to discover a new way of being that deepens understanding and enriches your connection with yourself and your wider community.
I work creatively, drawing on a range of approaches including sandtray, clay and artwork when appropriate, as experience has shown me that we are often able to discover our deepest truths more easily when we draw on the wisdom of our imagination.
I have experience in working with:
- attachment difficulties
- developmental & adult onset trauma (PTSD)
- eating disorders
- anxiety-related difficulties
- panic attacks
- OCD
- self-harm
- depression
- bereavement & loss
- relationship difficulties
- identity concerns
Training, qualifications & experience
Professional Memberships
- UKCP reg
- MBACP (Accred)
- LEAP
Professional Qualifications & Training*
- LEAP Level 5 Diploma in Equine Facilitated Psychotherapy
- MA in Integrative Child & Adolescent Psychotherapy
- PG Diploma in Non-Directive Play Therapy, PTUK, Dublin*
- PG Diploma in Pastoral Counselling
- Foundation Course in Family Therapy & Systemic Practice
From October 2008 to June 2019 I was responsible for overseeing the Counselling Service in a large Somerset boarding school working predominantly with 13 - 18 year olds from diverse cultural backgrounds. Prior to this I worked in a variety of therapeutic settings including a local Devon primary school with children aged 4-11, boarding schools in Surrey and charities offering affordable counselling to adults in Surrey and Exeter. I ran a small private practice working with children, young people and adults. Prior to becoming a therapist, I trained as a teacher and spent several years working with children aged 7-13.
Member organisations
Being registered/accredited with a professional body means an individual must have achieved a substantial level of training and experience approved by their member organisation.
The UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) is a leading professional body for the education, training and regulation of psychotherapists and psychotherapeutic counsellors. Its register is accredited by the government's Professional Standards Authority.
As part of its commitment to protect the public, it works to improve access to psychotherapy, to support and disseminate research, to improve standards and to respond effectively to complaints against its members.
UKCP standards cover the range of different psychotherapies. Registration is obtained by training or accrediting with one of its member organisations, or by holding a European Certificate in Psychotherapy. Accredited by the Professional Standards Authority.
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
Fees
£60.00 per session
Additional information
Counselling or Psychotherapy £50 per 50 minute session
Equine-Guided Psychotherapy £90 per 1.5hr session
Evening appointments (Mondays, Thursdays or Fridays 6-8PM) and Saturday appointments (8-11AM) £60 per 50 minute session. Tiverton location only.
I offer bursaries for those unable to offer full fees. Proof of status will be required.
When I work
EX16 location: Mondays, Thursdays & Fridays 8AM - 8PM
DT7 location: Tuesdays & Wednesdays 9AM - 5PM
EX16 Saturday appointments sometimes available 8AM - 11AM
Further information
I see children, young people and adults for counselling & psychotherapy in a peaceful location near Uplyme, Dorset DT7 on Tuesdays and Wednesdays 9AM - 5PM and on my smallholding near Tiverton EX16 on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays 8AM - 8AM.
Equine-guided Psychotherapy sessions are held at my smallholding near Tiverton EX16.
I offer an initial 40min meeting free of charge so that you can decide, without obligation, whether I am the right therapist for you. In this meeting I will ask you what it is that is causing you concern and what your hopes for therapy are. I will also explain how I work in more detail. If we decide another therapist would be a better fit, I will endeavour to point you in the right direction.
I am accredited with UKCP and BACP and abide by their code of ethics. To ensure I am offering you the best possible support, I receive monthly supervision and undertake regular continuing professional development.
