Sarah Delfont

Life can be a struggle, often leaving us in states of deep distress or suffering. I'm interested in how we can maintain our health; mental, emotional and physical, in a way that makes sense to us. This requires listening to the quiet voice within that in our busy modern lives is so easily. drowned out, Sometimes we just don't feel right in out own skin. It may be in response to a life crisis or something subtle and indefinable. Whatever it may be that causes us to suffer, there is always a way through to a more meaningful and content way of being.

I grew up in London, but one winter in my teen years I found my way to Devon and worked in a care home for the elderly. This experience made two things clear to me – I wanted to move away from the city and to work with people. I have now lived on Dartmoor for nearly forty years, bringing up my family here.

I experienced loss at a young age, at a time when feelings weren’t talked about. Therapy enabled me to make sense of the effect of that early trauma, which led me to work as a counsellor for people affected by cancer. In 2019 I retired from 16 years as an Oncology Support Specialist with the FORCE Cancer Charity in Exeter.  Since retiring I have a small private practice in Exeter and online.

Working with people facing a potentially terminal illness and some at the end of their lives has been a profound experience and has taught me invaluable lessons. With acceptance of their limitations, people’s ability to live through this time and to find meaning and joy, even peace, is awe-inspiring. These lessons can be applied to so many situations that arise in our lives.

This work has helped me appreciate all aspects of my life, even the difficulties as they have given me the greatest opportunities for change. Story, myth, word, the wild, animals, humanity and meditation influence my work and my family are my greatest source of joy, laughter, tears, challenge and learning 

My intention is to offer a space to listen to the quiet voice. The voice we only hear in the silences, through dreams and yearnings, or that makes itself heard in a crisis. It may be that voice is screaming loudly now, demanding to be listened to and that is what you are responding to by seeking counselling.

Rather than only focus on your challenges, I aim to help you see your strength and resilience, the qualities that brought you to therapy in the first place. We tend to live our emotional lives on autopilot, until something comes along that turns our lives upside down. So we will look at which strategies are useful and which are not, and together we'll take time to explore what needs attention. To do that we have to let a relationship develop – through kindness, compassion and building trust while exploring the challenges and the wonders of your life.

If you want to manage a particular issue in a new way, something immediate and known, we can work together to see how you might do that differently. Some people come to counselling for support and assurance that they are managing a difficult situation in the best possible way.

For whatever reason you seek counselling, and there is no right or wrong reason, my suggestion is to listen to that call and be open to what may be possible.

I co-facilitated independent mindfulness courses and retreats for many years and meditation has always been one of the foundation stones of my work.

My approach to counselling would be termed ‘integrative’ which means I draw from a variety of counselling and psychotherapeutic models including person-centred, solution focussed and relational.

I am an Accredited member of BACP and I abide by their Code of Ethics

I hold Professional Indemnity Insurance with Balens Health Professionals Combined Liability Insurance.

It can be daunting to find the right person to see for counselling.  With this in mind, our first meeting will be free so that we can see if we think we can work together, what you might hope for, what I can offer and also to establish all the practicalities, should you decide to see me as a counsellor.  A relationship of trust and value takes time to develop, of course, though initially there has to be the feeling that this could happen as that will be the foundation of our work together.

It will also give you an opportunity to ask any questions and I would like to know what is bringing you to see me at this time in your life. It may be circumstances, challenges, a crisis, a general feeling of something missing or that is at odds in your life and you may even be unsure why you feel the need.  There is no right or wrong reason to be seeking counselling and you may not know where to begin.  

Please contact me to arrange this first meeting which will last for 40 minutes and ideally will be in person or over Zoom or you may prefer to have a telephone conversation.  

My fee is £60.  I have some concessionary places, please ask.