Sarah Paul

I work around the school academic terms and therefore typically have breaks over half-terms/Easter/summer (August) and Christmas periods.

I find that these breaks can give clients some needed space to put our work into practice. It also provides some self-reflection on what the counselling space may mean; it can create strengthening abilities to cope for a limited time rather than feeling they need to “go it alone” as an ending to the counselling may cause. 

I am an experienced Psychodynamic Counsellor.  I aim to provide an environment to further understand our sense of “who we are” and how we function within our relationships with others or difficult to manage situations.

Life can throw us unexpected curve-balls and we can inevitably feel overwhelmed and unable to cope. Within my sessions, I seek to create a space that allows us to explore and talk through our fears which can highlight how we cope both in crisis and everyday life. This can provide better understanding of our inner thoughts that can, at times, be overpowering.

Within the counselling environment, it is important to provide a reflection of our thoughts and actions without judgement or assumptions. I believe this facilitates a trust in feeling safe to share what has become difficult to carry alone.

I trained and qualified (in 2015) at the University of Hertfordshire (School of Psychology) - Post Graduate Diploma in Contemporary Therapeutic Counselling.  The modality focus was psychodynamic psychotherapy.

I am a registered BACP member and comply with the BACP ethical framework; I subscribe to keeping my continued professional developmental learning both up to date and to an highly-approved standard.

I work within the following areas:

Bereavement

Anxiety

Depression/low-mood

Phobias and Addiction

Separation/Divorce

Trauma-related issues 

My aim is to understand my clients from past experiences, to present situations as well as looking forward; this can provide the capacity to make any necessary or wanted change. I find this way of working to be beneficial in keeping us grounded with what we already know about ourselves. This emotional state of acceptance helps us to understand why we are either in or keep falling into emotional ruts.

Our focus together is to enable our self-empathy to try and make a change to behaviours and habits. I listen without judgement or inputting my own agenda; reflection of our work together can give us an understanding of how we cope within relational dynamics and allow us the option of finding our own way forward with confidence.

Our practice, Stortford Therapy Space, is  situated in the centre of Bishop’s Stortford near to the town park. There are two local car parks situated in close proximity to our premises if you have travelled by car etc. Our space is both a calming and peaceful environment. We work within soundproofed rooms to provide confidentiality from the outside world.

I find it beneficial for people seeking to have counselling to attend a first session with me to see if we are a “good fit.”  

I take written details including historic family-information, local-surrounding support networks, health/medication details and expectations of what is needed or wanted from our counselling sessions together.

Initial consultation: £60.00 per hour.