Finder

Specialises in

• Cognitive Analytic Therapy (CAT)

• Psychotherapy

Offers

• Face-to-face consultations
• Video and telephone consultations

About me

I have been practising in private practice as an integrative psychotherapist/counsellor for 20 years. I am accredited with BACP (British Association of Counselling & Psychotherapy).

I am also trained as a CAT Practitioner (Cognitive Analytic Therapy), and work integratively, drawing on my training and experience over the years.

I have been involved in the caring professions for 30 years. This has included work in the voluntary sector, counselling in the community mental health field, and university counselling work based at the University of Manchester.

I now have a private practice in the Manchester area and offer both face-to-face and remote sessions, either for brief, focused work or longer-term therapy.

My background prior to my therapeutic training was in the creative arts where I learned to pay great attention to detail. I also trained as a yoga teacher and through my practice came to realise the importance of being mindfully aware in all situations. This can be a useful way of reducing stress or difficult emotions, for the more we can be aware of ourselves and our own minds, the more we can see where we get lost in the moment in old fears or worries. This can offer us the opportunity to be more present in the fresh unfolding moment ...

Often we can find ourselves stuck in familiar patterns of struggling in our lives in different ways; we may get stuck in cycles of depression or anxiety, find ourselves coping in 'unhealthy' ways, or find ourselves feeling alone and misunderstood by others -- there are many ways in which we can feel stuck.

Certain patterns (of relating to others, situations and ourselves) may have been playing out for many years, and we may come to a point where we wish to explore this; seeking to understand why similar situations keep recurring and to find ways to change these patterns.

Often these patterns, or ways of managing difficulties, can be rooted in our early lives as children, so it can be useful to explore your past. To get to know ourselves with compassion, and to understand how we keep struggling or getting stuck, leads to more self-awareness and hence more choice to do something differently.

Or, you may just be struggling with a present life difficulty and wish for a safe, non-judgemental place to explore that with someone who is outside of your situation.

I usually suggest an initial call so we can talk briefly about what has brought you to therapy and get a sense of whether we would like to work together.

At our initial session, we can begin to explore a way forward that would be useful for you in your life now.

Areas of interest

Depression; anxiety; low self-esteem; bereavement and loss; relationship difficulties; eating difficulties; self-harm; addictive behaviours; loss of identity or sense of self; neurodiversity (including ADHD and autism); life transitions; career and work issues; retirement; recurring relationship patterns; meaning and purpose; spirituality; mindfulness

Medical secretaries

• Sarah Allen
• 37 Horton Road MANCHESTER M14 7QB
• 07832 338870
• 07832 338870
• sarlou1972@hotmail.com