Sarah Horsley

I am available Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.

I work in a client-centred way meaning that the needs of the client are foremost within our counselling sessions. As my client you are free to bring anything to the session to explore together - nothing is too big or too small. Anything that has an impact on how you are feeling is relevant and important. 

I want you to feel safe, secure and comfortable within the sessions, to feel accepted and listened to in a non-judgmental environment. The therapeutic relationship is so important and is a tool of healing in itself. I want you to feel safe enough to trust me with whatever difficulties you are facing so that we can work together to unravel the reasons why you might be feeling as you do and explore the way forward.

 Building up rapport can happen instantly or it can take a few sessions - everyone is different in how they present in a session and of course, the material they want to work on. 

I am an integrative (accredited) counsellor within the humanistic tradition. As an integrative counsellor I therefore use a variety of approaches to ensure the 'best fit' for each client. Sometimes it is necessary to use a more psychodynamic approach and to look at the childhood and parental background. At times I may use the occasional CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) worksheet or way of thinking. I use relaxation and mindfulness techniques to help ‘ground’ the client in the present moment. 

Usually I will ask a client what they might like to focus on for that particular session and we go from there. Occasionally, a client may not know and prefers me to take a slightly more directive approach. Whatever approach is right for the client on that particular day works best. 

I genuinely care and want the best for my clients. I am a warm, friendly and kind person and love working with people. I have a boundaried approach which helps to provide a sense of safety and containment.

I run a small private practice business from my home. I work in an integrative way meaning that we use a variety of different therapeutic approaches within the sessions. It is very much client- led so it is up to the client to decide what they would like to use the time in the session to focus on. 

I am happy to work face-to-face or remotely. I use the Whereby.com platform which is very secure and I am also trained in telephone counselling. Sometimes clients like to have a mix of both as that serves their needs more practically. 

I offer a 15-30 minute free consultation prior to anyone starting therapy. This gives potential clients the opportunity to find out whether they would like to work with me or to ask any questions that they might have of the counselling process. It also provides me with information as to what is bringing someone for counselling. 

Weekly sessions at the start helps the therapeutic relationship to be cemented more easily. However, if clients prefer to start with fortnightly sessions due to financial considerations or otherwise then I'm equally happy to work within that arrangement. 

Every 6 weeks we have a mini-review of the counselling process just so that I can check you're happy with the way things are going so far or whether there is something we haven't yet covered that you'd like to talk about. 

It also helps me see how you are doing overall, to notice the steps you have made and to assess what has worked well for you or perhaps hasn't worked so well. Sometimes clients reach 6 or 12 sessions and decide that they would prefer fortnightly or monthly sessions. I am totally flexible on this and happy to be led by the client who knows what is right for them. 

Sometimes of course, a client may only need a few sessions before ending the counselling, but other times therapy can last much longer. It just depends on the needs of the client. 

The first session can often be quite daunting for new clients and this is completely understandable. After all, it is a huge step that you have taken to start counselling and that in itself deserves a 'well-done you!'

I will have gathered some information from you in our initial free consultation phone call (if that is what you choose to do) and so it will perhaps be expanding a bit on some of that information and clarifying the reasons for you coming to counselling in the first place.

 We may talk about what your hopes and expectations for the counselling process are, any fears or concerns you might have about that and also, how you will know when you have got to be where you want to be emotionally.

I assess as I go along, so initially I may ask some questions at our first consultation meeting but the assessment as such, is ongoing. There is no written assessment. 

We might also clarify the conditions of the contract between us (which will also be sent to you prior to your first session by email) and to ask you if you have any questions or concerns about anything to do with the counselling. 

There is absolutely no obligation for a client to proceed with counselling after the first paid session if they feel that for some reason we haven't 'clicked' or perhaps they have decided that they're not quite ready for counselling. I will check this out with my client at the end of the first session. 

 It is important for people to find the counsellor that is right for them (or to feel that they're in the right place emotionally to start counselling)  so I will completely understand if this happens to be the case.