The First Step Counselling
The First Step Counselling services, supporting your mental health through talking therapy.
The First Step Counselling
The First Step Counselling services, supporting your mental health through talking therapy.
A little bit about me and the Therapeutic Relationship.
The Therapeutic Relationship
The therapeutic relationship is in my opinion, what makes counselling work. My client's and prospective clients, need a safe place and environment where they can be their true selves and speak about things they may have never told anyone before. To be able to do this they need to have complete trust in the therapist, a place where there is no judgement and they are free to say what they need to, away from prying eyes and other's opinions. My aim is, in time, that the professional therapeutic relationship will grow into such a place. This all depends on empathy, congruence, trustworthiness and unconditional positive regard being offered by the counsellor. Talking therapy does work, and you never know, it could work for you too!
My background
My name is Sarah, I'm a psychotherapist, and I am the founder of First Step Counselling, based in Folkestone, Kent, England.
I've spent over 23 wonderful years working in education. This is where I discovered my passion for assisting young people in overcoming their difficulties and angst. Following this discovery, I went on to complete my level 2, 3, and 4 in therapeutic counselling, allowing me to become a qualified integrative counsellor. I now offer adult counselling as well as child and young person counselling. I have particular interest in the mental health of adolescents and also survivors of domestic abuse.
I am extremely passionate about mental health and especially the benefits that counselling/therapy can bring. In my own life I've hit quite a few lows (and highs) and have myself been where you are possibly now, taking the first step to not wanting to feel the way I did.
I have an understanding of how much strength it takes to make that very first step; each time I did, I grew as a person, and so can you!
Counselling is in my nature and I want to help people to become on the way to being their best versions of themselves. I believe that everyone has the ability to grow, no matter what life has thrown at them.
My promise to you.
I promise to be there for you every step of your counselling journey. My goal is to help you grow from your struggles, heal from your pain, and move forward to where you want to be in your life.
How do I work?
What is an integrative counsellor and what do they do?
What is an integrative counsellor and what do they do?
What is an integrative counsellor and what do they do?
I am an integrative counsellor, which means I tailor my approach to the unique individual I have in front of me. It also means that I believe that everyone is different and that means that one way of therapy won't work for everyone.
I pull my resources from a few different counselling theories, such as using the person centred approach as the crux of therapy, but also adding theories such as Transactional Analysis, Solution Focussed therapy, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy and Psychodynamic theory.
Person Centred Approach
What is an integrative counsellor and what do they do?
What is an integrative counsellor and what do they do?
What is Person Centred Approach?
Counselling that is focused on the individual is a humanistic approach. The American psychologist Carl Rogers founded it in the 1940's because he thought that, under the appropriate circumstances, everyone might realise their full potential and become who they truly are, a process he called "self-actualization." He also believed that everyone has access to this natural actualization process.
A counsellor that uses the person-centred approach will provide the following to assist you in realising your potential:
Unconditional positive regard (UPR) which entails welcoming and appreciating you without any judgement.
While congruence entails being truthful and open about how they see you and the world.
Empathic understanding entails considering your point of view as if they were you.
You will be encouraged to bring your own difficulties to counselling sessions with a person-centred counsellor because the counselling is guided by you rather than the counsellor.
Ethical bodies and confidentiality
What is an integrative counsellor and what do they do?
Ethical bodies and confidentiality
The British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), which promotes and raises standards for the counselling professions, is an organisation I belong to.
The register serves as a public registry of counsellors who achieve or surpass the basic quality requirements. These requirements involve education, supervision, ongoing professional growth, and a binding adherence to their Ethical Framework for the Counselling Professions.
A client can be confident that their counsellor satisfies the requirements for competence and moral conduct by selecting one who is registered on the BACP Register. Furthermore, I adhere to the BACP'S framework for confidentiality.