Sarah May

Hi, I'm Sarah. I'm a Child Psychotherapist and a Psychotherapeutic Counsellor who works with children, teenagers, and young adults. I'm dedicated to providing a calm, gentle, and non-judgemental space for my clients to explore and overcome the difficulties that have brought them to therapy. With over 15 years of experience working directly with children and young people, initially as a teacher, then as a counsellor and mental health lead, I recognise the challenges that they face, and I am passionate about supporting them to thrive. 

I know that each client brings to therapy a story that is unique to them. For this reason, I use an Integrative approach. This means I draw upon a range of different theories and approaches to tailor a bespoke therapy service to meet each client's specific needs. I strongly value the therapeutic relationship and it is at the heart of my work. In addition to providing talking therapy and psychoeducation, I am highly trained and experienced in using a range of creative interventions, such as; sand tray, clay, drawing, storytelling, and guided imagery. Creative interventions can help clients express themselves, explore distressing feelings and gain self-awareness. With young children, my sessions will involve the use of play. I help to make sense of what they show me through their play and through their relationship with me.

I am experienced in counselling children and young people in primary, secondary and further education settings. I work with a wide range of presenting difficulties such as anxiety, low mood, anger, bereavement, friendship difficulties, reluctance to attend school, family breakdown, academic stress, self-harming behaviours, and trauma. I help children and young people make sense of their life and find ways of expressing themselves and coping when things become overwhelming. Working with neurodiversity is an interest of mine and I have worked as a counsellor in a local charity supporting autistic children and adults. 

Parents and carers play a vital role in helping children to express and explore their feelings, develop resilience, and nurture positive relationships. I therefore believe it is vital that parents and carers receive support when they need it. I offer a calm, non-judgemental space for parents and carers to explore current challenges related to parenting and family life. 

I offer face to face or online sessions. Sessions can be short-term or long term. I run my private practice from a lovely therapy room within Chapter House in North Shields. 

For children and adolescents, the first session will be a parental consultation where we will discuss the reasons for referral in depth and I will ask about your child’s development and life history. The next session will be with your child, although parents are asked to stay for part of it. In this session we will discuss how we might work together and agree some goals for the sessions. This meeting also gives us a chance to see if we are the right fit for each other, as this is an important feature of successful therapy. Subsequent sessions are offered to your child individually. Where appropriate, and with your child's consent, parent reviews can be offered intermittently.

For young adults, students, or parent work only, the first session involves an initial assessment, and we will discuss the business and therapeutic contract.