Sarah Westlake
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This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
I am a friendly and experienced therapist for couples and individuals in Shoreditch and online. I also supervise clinical practice, teach and facilitate groups on training courses, at Birkbeck, Counselling Foundation, and Minster Centre. Previously I worked as a Programme Tutor and Year Development Tutor, supervisor and seminar leader on a professional clinical training at WPF. I also work at a community charity supervising clinical practice.
What to expect from a first session:
I understand it can be hard to approach a psychotherapist for the first time, and I have an open and non judgemental manner. Therapy supports you at times of uncertainty and distress and gives you understanding about your emotional reactions to life events and the increased knowledge to cope in times of stress. I can offer you a safe, confidential space where you have time to think and make sense of your feelings and start to identify a way forward.
We can either focus on a specific issue that you are aware of, or take time to reflect on how past issues are influencing your current life and behaviour and think about the impact these may have had on you. I work with a wide range of issues some of which include: cultural identity, anger, depression, panic, trauma, anxiety, bereavement, work related stress, parenthood, post natal depression, sexual difficulties, sexual identity, addictions and relationship conflict.
The process of therapy:
I am an experienced psychodynamic psychotherapist and am trained to work with deep seated feelings which are held in our unconscious. Connecting with these can help you gain a clearer understanding of who you are, and how to make changes to achieve a life that is more closely connected to your real self rather than continuing with a life that feels limited, unsatisfying or one you think others expect you to lead.
My background:
I worked in TV and film production for 20 years and use this experience to think about the meaning we give to the visual and digital world.
I have worked extensively with clients as GP referrals, in a hospice, on programmes for the long term unemployed, at counselling agencies and in private practice in London and Herts.
I am also a qualified bodyworker and treat clients with massage and aromatherapy. I have an interest in how emotional distress can manifest in physical symptoms and can help you think about how this might impact your own body.
I receive regular supervision and as a member of the BACP I work to it's Ethical Framework for good practice.
Training, qualifications & experience
Psychology BSc (Hons)
Graduate Certificate in Couple Counselling - Relate with Univ of East London
Diploma in Psychodynamic Counselling - WPF
Advanced Diploma in Psychodynamic Counselling-WPF
Certificate in Supervision - Society for Analytical Psychology
Certificate in Clinical Practice - SAP
Member of British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy
Member of British Psychological Society
Member organisations
school Registered / Accredited
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.
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
£90.00 per session
Concessions offered for
Health Insurance/EAP
Additional information
Shoreditch £90 a session for individuals and £115 a session for couples
Skype sessions for individuals and couples
Supervision £55-65/session
some low cost slots are available on Skype only: if this would help you receive counselling please ask
When I work
Mon-Thurs
Further information
if you find it difficult to attend counselling at one of my locations I can offer Skype or phone sessions
