Sarah Westlake
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This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
Hello, thanks for clicking on my page, I know it takes a lot of courage to get this far, I know because I've been in exactly the same place as you...looking at various smiley faces, all offering me a better future; you would think it would be easy to choose wouldn't you? So, what makes me different? I think everyone is unique in their own way, so in some senses, I am already different! Seriously though, I have always found that people have connected with me really easily and in a short space of time. I think this is due to the fact that I give them time, I actually hear what they are saying, people feel heard when they leave.
Over the years, I've realised that a lot of humans, just want their story to be heard, not interrupted or given ways to fix, they just want to be heard and accepted, and validated for who they are, in that moment. This is what I now offer as a therapist. The other parts to therapy, such as adding theory and different ways to work come after I've heard your story if you want it. My client is in control, they know what is best for them and how they want to achieve their goals.
I expect you are here because your life isn't or hasn't gone the way you would have liked- life can be bitter, but...when life throws you lemons, make lemonade; I can help you with that. I am not going to judge your decisions, you are human and humans make mistakes. I will offer you unconditional positive regard and I will be genuine with you. I promise.
Training, qualifications & experience
- Foundation Degree In Childhood Studies
- NCFE L2 Certificate in Counselling Skills
- CPCAB L3 Certificate in Counselling Studies
- SEG L4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling
- Hays Safeguarding (yearly)
- Various CPD courses, bereavement, ADHD, Autism, depression, anxiety, PTSD, eating disorders; in particular Osfed and so on.
- Internal Family Systems (IFS)
- Victim Focus - Understanding Trauma-Informed Practice
Within my 23 years in education as a teacher, and working with wonderful small humans, I decided to become a counsellor. Throughout those years, my training has been aimed at children- safeguarding in particular, along with ADHD, Autism, behavioural, Dyslexia, Dyscalculia and so on. I have a degree in Childhood studies and this allows me to understand the pedagogy of a child.
However, saying that, I have counselled many adults and adolescents with issues ranging from Anxiety to PTSD, and like all counsellors, I am still learning everyday!
As a counsellor, I am required to have ongoing personal development training, these are a few I have completed within the last two years:
- Mindfulness
- Working creatively with Children
- Grief and bereavement counselling
- Adolescent mental health
- The Teenage Brain
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
Other areas of counselling I deal with
Although my background has been and still is within the child and adolescent sector, I also counsel adults.
The adaptations for different developmental stages are one of the most obvious contrasts between adult and adolescent counselling.
Adolescent therapy takes into account brain development. A teen's brain's remarkable flexibility influences both academic and emotional behaviour. Self-confidence, relational security, identity, independence, self-control, and social skills are among the primary regions of a maturing brain that may be addressed in therapy.
Adolescents are concerned with developing their identity, however this can lead to uncertainty. At this time, they consider social expectations, their background, and their ideals.
Adults, on the other hand, are coping with issues of intimacy and loneliness, as well as the search for meaning later in life. I tailor their practises to these periods of life.
Therapies offered
Fees
£50.00 per session
Free initial telephone or online session
Concessions offered for
Additional information
Fees are based for a 50 minute session, either on a video platform or face to face. These sessions are special to you, they are reserved for you only. They will normally be at the same time and the day day each week, unless arranged otherwise.
When I work
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The above availability are the times I am open to working. Some of these times may already be taken by other clients, however, I am flexible and we can work together to find a suitable time.
Further information
My goal is to travel with you on your quest to discover your true self, as opposed to the person your circumstances have pushed you to become. Whatever is troubling you -perhaps stress, worry, sadness, grief, marital problems or an inclination for negatively - I wish to help you develop and make positive adjustments in your life. I want to work with you to increase your self-esteem, self-confidence, and sense of control over your life's situations so that you feel more capable of managing them and more aware of the good things in your life.
