Counsellor Profile
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optionalSarah Alford – Professional Counsellor
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I am a fully qualified Psychosynthesis Counsellor and trainee Psychotherapist at the Institute of Psychosynthesis, London, offering short and long term psychospiritual counselling sessions focused on gentle, empathic and compassionate enquiry.
Personal Touch
As someone who has experienced much of life with the sense of being an ‘outsider’, my life journey so far has been about finding ways to establish a place for myself in the world in which to live life with more joy, love, peace, compassion and hope, and with a deeper connection to others.
I have lived within various alternative communities and in wild natural landscapes, developing a strong connection with nature and wildlife and attempting to understand the human race and its often baffling and conflicting beauty and destructiveness.
Inspired by the effectiveness of counselling and psychotherapy in understanding myself as a human being, I’ve chosen to train as a psychospiritual Psychosynthesis counsellor to help others find their way to reach for their own dreams, fulfil their potential and find the peace and happiness they yearn for in life.
As well as assisting with general wellbeing and relational issues, my passions and special areas of interest are in helping others with feelings of isolation or separation from others or from the world, shyness, fear, anxiety, shame, low self-worth, low confidence, rage, anger and depression, spirituality, spiritual identity, psychic phenomenon, substance misuse and binge eating disorder.
My great loves are spending time in nature, walks with my dog, reading, cycling, animal communication and being with loved ones.
Client Focus
Psychosynthesis is a psychology of hope, love and will, because it reaches towards the potential in each one of us. At the deepest level, it regards the problems and obstacles we encounter in our lives as meaningful and potentially transformative, and seeks to support you through your suffering whilst also guiding you on your personal journey towards uncovering what may emerge or evolve in response to your challenges. We cannot erase our history, but with the development of compassionate self-awareness, we can learn to work with our history, freeing us up to access our own inherent, soulful and unique potential for transformative growth, creativity and self expression.
Psychosynthesis is not a religion, but recognises and acknowledges a spiritual core, higher self or divinity, allowing you to explore both your current challenges as well as existential and spiritual enquiries - questions such as "Who am I in the universe?" or "What is my soul purpose in this life?"
Background
Diploma in Psychosynthesis Psychology - Institute of Psychosynthesis, London
Diploma in Psychosynthesis Counselling - Institute of Psychosynthesis, London
Diploma in Psychosynthesis Psychotherapeutic Counselling and Psychotherapy (In progress) - Institute of Psychosynthesis, London
Level 2 & 3 Certificate in Person-Centred Counselling Skills
FdSc Health and Nutrition - University of Plymouth
Usui Reiki Master
Therapy Approach
I offer both short-term (6-12 weeks) and longer-term contracts.
Sessions are 1 hour, and are weekly due to the nature of the modality.
After an initial free 10-20 minute phone consultation, my initial session is 90 minutes to allow time for us to get to know each other, to briefly hear about what has brought you to therapy, and to discuss any needs or requirements that you may have. I will take some contact details and go through the contract with you, allowing you the time to ask any questions as they arise.
A normal session is usually based around talking about what is happening for you right now. If comfortable and willing, sessions can also include a short meditation, somatic breathing exercises to help regulate your emotions and nervous system, reflective, guided visualisations, and drawing.
Therapy explained
Psychosynthesis
Psychosynthesis is an approach that aims to integrate different aspects of a person’s personality into a cohesive whole, emphasizing personal growth and self-realization.
