Sarah Naylor

I work from the belief that our relationships with others are central to our wellbeing, and that difficulties are often rooted in our past experiences. I will work collaboratively with you, with an aim to help you gain insight into your experiences, and nurture growth and compassion, as you look forward to the future.

I will respect your uniqueness and prioritise working alongside you on your goals that you have identified as important to you. I will listen carefully with the aim of ensuring that your experiences are heard, valued, and accepted in a warm, calm, and safe space where you are invited to bring your ‘whole self’ without fear of judgement to explore whatever is causing you difficulty or unrest. You may have a clear idea, or just a sense that things do not feel quite right. I am relationally trained but also use compassion focused therapy to help you to understand that how you feel is a normal reaction to life events, to gain greater control and nurture compassion for future personal development and growth. 

My work is informed by 30 years of experience in the NHS. I can work with a wide variety of presentations including childhood abuse, domestic abuse, loss, anxiety and depression, relational difficulties, or challenges adapting to life changes.

I have a particular interest in antenatal, perinatal and parenting difficulties such as difficulty conceiving, a difficult birth, a baby or child bereavement, or feel that parenting is not quite as you had imagined. Due to past trauma, experiences or difficult relationships, not all parents feel connected to their baby, child or family. Your parenting experience may have unearthed difficult memories of your own childhood which may feel unsettling. I can work with either parent to help nurture a more positive and self-compassionate stance which enables greater connection to your baby or child. Such difficulties are not uncommon in both men and women and so l provide a space for either parent.

Our work may be short-term with a clear focus, or we may agree to work open ended to suit individual needs and goals. I understand the importance of a balanced relationship; and have a natural and empathic approach, and a desire to hear and support people in their experiences of life.

I offer sessions weekly in order to maintain the flow of our work. These may be in person in either North Leeds or Ilkley, or on-line.

I offer a 20 minute free initial online appointment or telephone call to see if you feel that l am the right therapist for you and to see if l am able to meet your needs.

Sessions are £55. 

Please do get in touch to have a chat about your needs.  Further information is available at www.nurturegrowthcompassion.co.uk.

'We cannot change our past but often, gaining insight and compassion for ourselves, offers alternatives for the future.'