Sarah Buchanan

Please contact me to discuss availability and arrange a suitable appointment time.

I offer a free 20 minute introductory phone call, so you can decide whether you would like to proceed.

Welcome. I’m SJ Buchanan, a BACP-registered integrative psychotherapist providing face-face therapy for women in Wimbledon and Kingston. I offer a deeply engaged and dynamic approach to therapy—one that moves beyond passive reflection and into a space of real connection, immediacy, and embodied awareness. Therapy with me isn’t just about talking; it’s about paying close attention to how experiences show up in the body, the nervous system, and in the therapeutic relationship itself.

A large body of research shows that the relationship between therapist and client is the most important factor in meaningful change. My work is guided by this, focusing not just on your past but on what happens between us in real time. This immediacy—bringing attention to what is unfolding in the present moment—can illuminate long-standing patterns and provide insight into how you relate to yourself and others.

Stress, trauma, and life’s pressures don’t just exist in the mind—they take root in the body. My approach is influenced by contemporary understandings of the nervous system, particularly how chronic stress and past experiences shape our ability to feel safe, connected, and at ease. Many women experience a sense of being overwhelmed, disconnected, or stuck in patterns of emotional reactivity. Therapy can offer a space to gently explore these patterns, helping to shift them through awareness, insight, and embodied engagement.

I have a strong academic background, with an undergraduate degree in Counselling and Psychotherapy and a Master’s in Integrative Psychotherapy. My research specialises in embodied countertransference—the ways a therapist’s bodily responses can bring deeper understanding to the therapeutic process. In addition to talking therapy, my approach is informed by trauma-sensitive yoga, polyvagal theory, and a nuanced understanding of how the body holds and processes emotion.

Who I Work With

I work with women navigating a wide range of experiences, including:

Motherhood & Womanhood – exploring identity, relationships, and the pressures women face

Trauma & Loss – including abuse, abortion, miscarriage, and bereavement

Stress & Nervous System Dysregulation – when life feels overwhelming or emotionally ‘shut down’

Addiction & Recovery – over 15 years of experience supporting women in recovery

I also offer concessionary rates for women facing social services intervention or care proceedings.

If you’re wondering whether therapy might be right for you, I offer a free initial consultation to help you get a sense of how we might work together. 

Please contact me regarding availability, as I run a flexible, full-time practice and my diary changes regularly.

Welcome. I’m SJ Buchanan, a BACP-registered integrative psychotherapist providing face-face therapy for women in Wimbledon and Kingston. I offer a deeply engaged and dynamic approach to therapy—one that moves beyond passive reflection and into a space of real connection, immediacy, and embodied awareness. Therapy with me isn’t just about talking; it’s about paying close attention to how experiences show up in the body, the nervous system, and in the therapeutic relationship itself.

A large body of research shows that the relationship between therapist and client is the most important factor in meaningful change. My work is guided by this, focusing not just on your past but on what happens between us in real time. This immediacy—bringing attention to what is unfolding in the present moment—can illuminate long-standing patterns and provide insight into how you relate to yourself and others.

Stress, trauma, and life’s pressures don’t just exist in the mind—they take root in the body. My approach is influenced by contemporary understandings of the nervous system, particularly how chronic stress and past experiences shape our ability to feel safe, connected, and at ease. Many women experience a sense of being overwhelmed, disconnected, or stuck in patterns of emotional reactivity. Therapy can offer a space to gently explore these patterns, helping to shift them through awareness, insight, and embodied engagement.

I have a strong academic background, with an undergraduate degree in Counselling and Psychotherapy and a Master’s in Integrative Psychotherapy. My research specialises in embodied countertransference—the ways a therapist’s bodily responses can bring deeper understanding to the therapeutic process. In addition to talking therapy, my approach is informed by trauma-sensitive yoga, polyvagal theory, and a nuanced understanding of how the body holds and processes emotion.

I work with women navigating a wide range of experiences, including:

Motherhood & Womanhood – exploring identity, relationships, and the pressures women face

Trauma & Loss – including abuse, abortion, miscarriage, and bereavement

Stress & Nervous System Dysregulation – when life feels overwhelming or emotionally ‘shut down’

Addiction & Recovery – over 15 years of experience supporting women in recovery

I also offer concessionary rates for women facing social services intervention or care proceedings.

If you’re wondering whether therapy might be right for you, I offer a free initial consultation to help you get a sense of how we might work together. 

During our first session I will informally assess you. I will be hoping to learn from you what brought you to therapy, and what you hope to achieve in our work together. We will discuss your suitability for the type of therapy I offer, and I will explain in greater detail how I work.