Sharon Hastings
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This professional is currently not accepting new clients and may not respond to general enquiries at this time.
This professional is currently not accepting new clients and may not respond to general enquiries at this time.
About me
Hello, I'm Sharon.
Are you finding life stressful or challenging just now? Do you feel 'stuck', anxious or overwhelmed, unhappy with how things are, but unsure what to do or how to change things for the better? I know from experience that talking to a counsellor can help you to make sense of it all. I like to think that having counselling is like giving yourself a gift – a gift that says ‘yes’ to you and to the hope that your life can get better. Counselling can help you to let go of the 'stuff' that may have been holding you back for years, to work through things life has thrown at you and to finally be happy in yourself, in who you are and to be the best 'you' that you can be.
Change is never easy but there is hope, and it is possible for life to change in a way that has meaning for you. And you don't have to do it alone. This is where I come in with ‘Iremia Counselling’. 'Iremia' is a Greek word that means peace or tranquillity. Peace is a treasure that we all need in our lives. If your peace seems shaken by life's challenges, I invite you to let me help you find and reclaim it.
I can offer you a safe space where you can explore your feelings and the issues that are causing you anxiety or emotional distress. I will journey with you, as you explore what is going on in your life and support you to make the changes that may be needed to help you move towards personal growth, greater inner strength and resilience.
How I work
As an experienced integrative counsellor, I combine complementary counselling approaches and tailor them to your needs. For example, I consider how your early attachments impact your adult life, I use aspects of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, to help you to identify unhelpful thinking patterns and how they can be challenged and I use aspects of Transactional Analysis, to help you to understand how you relate to others and to see if these patterns of relating work for you, or against you. I also integrate creative approaches, as they can help to give you a unique insight into yourself and your situation. When working with couples, I look to see how the emotional disconnection that has brought you to counselling can be restored.
Take that first step
Exploring the difficulties you are facing can be painful and challenging, but it can also be empowering and liberating. You owe it to yourself to give it a go – to give yourself the opportunity to rediscover (and may be reclaim) who you are and the life you want to live. It takes courage to change and you have already taken that first step by being here. Take the next step and contact me to have an initial chat to see how counselling can help you. Decide today not to be reduced by your situation. Come to counselling as you are and leave the way you want to be.
“You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them.” Maya Angelou
Training, qualifications & experience
Level 4 Diploma in Integrative Therapeutic Counselling
Level 4 Practice Certificate in Counselling Children
Diploma in Online Counselling
Diploma in Supervision
Diploma in Postnatal Facilitation, which focuses on the issues and challenges of becoming a parent.
Approved Mental Health First Aid Instructor with Mental Health First Aid England
I undergo ongoing training and have certificates in Creative Therapies, Bereavement and loss, Working Creatively with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Working with Couples, Safeguarding Children, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy with Adults, Children and Young People, Solution Focused Therapy, Online counselling.
I have experience of supporting people on a range of issues such as low mood, anxiety, bereavement, relationship strain, workplace and study stress. I also work with parenting challenges, cultural and cross-cultural issues.
I am a member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), an Accredited Member of the Association of Christians in Counselling and Linked Professions (ACC) and a member of the Association for Counselling and Therapy Online (ACTO).
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
£50.00 - £65.00
Free initial telephone or online session
Additional information
Individual counselling: £50 per session
Couples Counselling: £65 per session
Student counsellors: £45 per session
When I work
I am currently unable to take on new clients at this time.