Sarah Shaw
Integrative Therapist (BACP)
I am a trainee integrative counsellor currently working towards qualification, with a genuine interest in supporting individuals through life’s challenges, changes, and difficulties. As background, I have worked in early-years childcare as both a Nanny and a Nursery Nurse and from there I became a professional Housekeeper; my transition to Counsellor has been made easier by my skillset within my former careers.
This includes my attention to detail, trustworthiness, respect of personal space within an emotional capacity without being intrusive and my abilities to observe what is needed and how to provide it. Working closely with families, I have built interpersonal skills and the ability to work collaboratively, while my interactions with children equipped me with strong active listening skills and the ability to support growth . What is most essential is how I place confidentiality and sensitivity to individual needs as a crucial part of my practice.
My Therapy Practice
In bringing the above skills to provide a non-judgemental, collaborative, and supportive environment, I am guided by what you have brought with you to therapy and your own personal insights. My aim is to allow us both access into exploring your world so we have a greater understanding of your experiences. This gives you the opportunity to make change with your day-to-day responses to something that might feel healthier and happier. This may involve us looking at your early relationships and how those experiences have shaped how you understand yourself and your current thoughts and feelings. Rather than providing solutions, I will work alongside you to help you gain further awareness of what impacts and affects you individually.
Reflection and insight can really be empowering; it helps you to identify your own strengths and resources which bring self-control and self-worth.
I offer individual in person sessions for adults 18+ on a short-term basis. Areas that I can help with include the following: low mood, anxiety, low self-esteem, relationship difficulties, life challenges, and patterns of behaviour that feel repetitive. This is not an exhaustive list, rather it highlights some relevant experiences that demonstrate my abilities to work within.
How I work
I lead with a person-centred approach, where empathy is central to how I understand and work with clients, for me, empathy means making a genuine effort to see the world from my client’s perspective by communicating this understanding through active listening and reflection. Acceptance underpins my practice because I believe meaningful therapeutic change happens when we feel believed without challenge.
Anything less than this can feel judgemental or critical. I aim to create a space where you can feel safe to explore any thoughts, feelings, and behaviours. My integrative training allows me to draw on various theories and tools enabling me to adapt my approach based on the unique needs of each individual.
My Training
Having completed levels 2 and 3 of CPCAB counselling training, I am now undertaking the Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic counselling at Farnborough University Centre where I am approaching the completion of my first year and preparing to begin my
