Sam McCarthy

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Available for new clients
Available for new clients

This professional is available for new clients.

Brighton BN1 & Hove BN3
Available for new clients
Available for new clients

This professional is available for new clients.

About me

***** I began working online and via telephone early March 2020 and have supported clients throughout the pandemic. I also facilitate therapeutic support groups for mothers who've experienced birthing alone, restricted visits, traumatic birth, pregnancy complications, premature birth and neonatal illness. *****

Life presents a multitude of events, challenges and obstacles, that at times can be difficult to surmount. Each person meets these with different perspectives and emotions; these differences are part of what makes us human.

Another vital part of being human is the need for connection and to share what we are experiencing, to help make sense of our existence. But if you're feeling overwhelmed and resources are depleted, it can be hard to find space to reflect and find a way through.

I aim to offer a compassionate, safe and nonjudgemental environment, where you are free to explore what’s important to you. Together we will work collaboratively, and mindfully uncover the values and beliefs influencing your responses to concerns which may be arising.

My work is grounded in a person centred approach, which acknowledges your intrinsic capacity for growth and is informed by my long standing practices of mindful and somatic embodied awareness.

With conscious attention, I use my body and discreet interoception - the sense that helps us understand and feel what's going on inside our bodies - to attune to your needs in our therapeutic relationship, and help you to determine the outcomes you desire.

Training, qualifications & experience

  • Goals in Therapy: Actualising Our Deepest Directions - Mick Cooper
  • In the Wake of Suicide - Institute of Integrative Counselling and Psychotherapy
  • Violence: Overt and Covert (Suffocating the Psyche) - International Association for Forensic Psychotherapy
  • The Science & Practice of Mindful Movement - Bo Forbes
  • The Healing Power of Imagination in Impossible Situations: Working with Loss, Grief and Trauma with Creative Methods - Mooli Lahad
  • The Science, Art, and Practice of Getting Good Sleep - Bo Forbes
  • Transforming Grief, Loss, & Depression in a Rapidly Changing World - Bo Forbes
  • Trauma Masterclass: The Art of Trauma Treatment" - Kathrin Stauffer, Miriam Taylor and Tony Buckley.
  • COVID-19 and We: Mind, Brain, Embodiment, & Social Body - Bo Forbes
  • The Science, Psychology, and Social Context of Body Image - Bo Forbes
  • Yoga Teacher Training 200 hour with Toni Roberts - in progress
  • Yoga & Somatics for Healing & Recovery - Charlotte Watts
  • Existential Therapy and the Art of Living - Emmy van Deurzen
  • The Traumatised Mother’s Inner World - Confer
  • Love vs Trauma. The Frontiers of Healing Childhood Trauma. A Symposium
  • Group Facilitation Skills - Macmillan
  • Working at Relational Depth in Counselling and Psychotherapy - Mick Cooper
  • Person Centred Foundation Degree
  • Are we really person centred? - Chris Molyneux
  • Understanding Relationships with Relate & Macmillan
  • Body Storylines - Maggie Turp
  • Yoga for Menopause Support: Responding to the diversity of experiences of menopause - Uma Dinsmore Tulli
  • On Feeding and Being Fed - Lunda Cundy
  • Psychological Assessment Skills - Urtzi Cristobal
  • CRUSE Bereavement Support
  • NHS Breast Feeding Peer Support
  • CPCAB Level 3 - Counselling Skills and Theory
  • CPCAB Level 3 - Counselling Skills
  • CPCAB Level 2 - Introduction to Counselling

I am experienced helping people meet their responses to:

  • Loss, Grief, Anticipated Loss (pre-bereavement), Bereavement
  • Separation, Divorce, Endings
  • Relationships, Family and Attachment
  • Pregnancy, Postnatal, Motherhood, PND, PTSD
  • Anxiety, OCD, Depression, Trauma
  • Eating Disorders - Relationships with Food
  • Control Issues - Alcohol/Substances
  • Body Dysmorphia, Body Awareness
  • Self Esteem Issues, Lack of Confidence
  • Loss of Productivity, Creativity and Blocks
  • Work Related Stress, Changes and Choices

Member organisations

BACP
British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy (BACP)

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

British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy
Accredited Register Scheme

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.

British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy

Other areas of counselling I deal with

In 2015 I co-founded UMEUS, a foundation supporting parents…
UMEUS offers mothers, fathers and carers a multifaceted approach to supporting their development in the world of parenthood.

Our UMEgroups offer community both online and in the physical world.
It’s one of the highlights of my week to facilitate our UMEmamas sessions at The Tree of Life Centre in Hove.My

UMEtalk is UMEUS’ counselling and psychotherapy service where working alongside a select and eclectic team is a privilege and a joy.
I manage our UMEtalk student counselling team where parents can gain access to Fair Rate Counselling.

It is our belief that talking therapies are not reserved for crisis, but can be employed to offer a chance to ease transitions through the major life changes that parenthood brings, and aid personal development that can impact the life of our children, our communities and society as a whole.

www.umeusfoundation.org


Photos & videos

Fees

£60.00 - £75.00
Free initial telephone session

Concessions offered for

  • Low income
  • Keyworkers
  • OAPs
  • Students
  • Trainee counsellors
  • Unemployed

Additional information

I offer a free 10 minute call to clients before booking in. Our first session is usually a little longer, around 75-90 minutes max. 

I charge a little more for this exploratory initial consultation (£75 or pro-rated for concessions); 25% of this rate is donated to the non-profit organisation UMEUS for a Fair Rate Counselling Service offered to parents.

My practice fees begin at £60 per therapeutic hour (50mins)

Please do enquire for concessions

When I work

Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
Morning
Afternoon
Evening
Night

I believe that mental health is as crucial as any other health care, so for this reason I work mainly during weekdays. 

Evenings and weekends are occasionally available for regular clients.

Further information

Compassion, awareness, inclusivity, autonomy, intuition and non-judgement are values I apply to my therapeutic practice.

My approach is informed by psychological, existential, counselling, mindfulness and yogic philosophies.

Brighton, East Sussex, BN1

Type of session

In person
Online
Phone

Types of client

Adults
Older Adults
Groups
Organisations

Key details

DBS check

In England and Wales, the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS, formerly known as CRB) carry out criminal records checks for individuals working with vulnerable groups, such as children. To find out more, visit gov.uk , or contact this professional directly

Online platforms

Zoom