Sarah Hedley Dray

I have current daytime availability for supervision for in person sessions at my home studio. The studio is on the ground floor. 

I also offer online supervision sessions.

I am an Arts Counsellor and Integrative Sandplay Therapist. I work from a person-centred perspective and enjoy working creatively with people of all ages and abilities. 

I offer a safe, creative space in my home studio for supervision.

My Background and Experience

With a background in Education, I am a qualified teacher, with over 20-years experience in both Mainstream and Special Education at primary, secondary and further education settings within the UK and overseas at International Schools. This has given me broad experience at working with children and young people of all abilities and backgrounds. I have worked extensively within Special Educational Needs settings, supporting children and young people with autism, ADHD, learning difficulties and/or Social, Emotional and Behavioural challenges. 

Since training as an Arts Counsellor, I have worked therapeutically in a variety of settings including care homes and community organisations, seeing individual clients on both a short-term and long-term basis. I have enjoyed running well-being groups and workshops for Older Adults living with dementia and other age-related conditions.

My Current Practice

I run a private practice offering Arts Counselling and Sandplay Therapy to children, young people and adults of all ages and abilities. 

Blending talking therapy with creative approaches, I work with those seeking support with both short and long term issues. Working with individuals of all abilities, I offer creative, adaptable support for neurodivergent children, young people and adults with sensory or communication differences.

Alongside my private practice, I am a visiting lecturer at a college for Art and Therapy, where I teach trainee Arts Counsellors and assess Clinical Case Studies.  

I also run a monthly Art for Wellbeing group at a community setting.

Supervision

With my background in Education, I am experienced in mentoring trainee and qualified teachers, and supervising both trainee and qualified counsellors.

I offer supervision to students and qualified professionals. I welcome supervisees from Forest Row, East Grinstead, Crowborough, Haywards Heath and Lingfield and neighbouring places. Sessions are held in my home studio in Forest Row. I also offer online sessions.

Supervision provides a dedicated time for considering your ongoing, professional, ethical practice. I offer a safe, creative space for you to explore your work in ways that support your emotional needs and your professional development.

If you choose, we can use creative processes within our supervision sessions to help you explore your work from different perspectives.

I offer a free 20-minute phone call to find out about you and how I may be able to help. I will answer any questions you may have. If we feel we're a good fit to work together, you can book an initial session.

At our first session we will further explore areas to focus on in our time together and consider ways of working that suit your needs. 

I offer a full hour to give us time to explore your current practice in ways that are supportive.

I have current availability during the day for Arts Counselling and/or Sandplay Therapy sessions at my home studio. The studio is on the ground floor. I also offer online sessions. 

Sessions are usually weekly however I can also offer fortnightly sessions depending on your needs. 

All art materials are included for in person sessions. For online sessions I can advise on art materials you might like to use during our time together.

I am an Arts Counsellor and Integrative Sandplay Therapist. I enjoy working with people of all ages and abilities and offer a safe, creative space in my home studio where you will be listened to and fully accepted with empathy.

How I Can Help

I have a person-centred approach to counselling which means that we work at your pace. Together, we'll explore any difficulties you may be experiencing to support and enhance your wellbeing.

You might have a specific reason for coming, such as needing support with a recent bereavement or traumatic event,  or struggling with a life transition such as becoming a parent, ending a relationship, menopause, redundancy or retirement. You may be anxious or depressed, wanting to explore these feelings and find coping strategies. Or perhaps you're struggling with low mood, sensing that something isn't quite right. 

Whatever the reason, you're making time to focus on your wellbeing, and I'm here to listen and provide confidential support.

Qualifications & Credentials

• MCIG Transpersonal Arts Counselling
  
• Certificate in Integrative Sandplay Therapy
• PhD Applied Psychology
• BA Hons Fine Art
  
• Post Grad Certificate in Education
  
• Fully Insured with enhanced DBS
  
• Accredited Member of BACP

Professional Experience

I work therapeutically with children, young people and adults of all ages and abilities. Alongside my private practice, I am a Visiting Lecturer in Arts Counselling at a School for Art and Therapy where I teach trainee counsellors and mark Clinical Case Studies. I enjoy running group workshops, supporting creativity and wellbeing in the local community.

With a background in teaching, I'm experienced in  Mainstream and Special Education, in schools, colleges and further education, in the UK and overseas. I work with neurotypical and neurodivergent clients and am experienced supporting those living with dementia, autism, ADHD, physical disabilities, sensory impairment, communication differences and/or learning difficulties. 

My Approach

Art Counselling or Sandplay Therapy can be chosen alone or alongside each other. We explore whatever you bring to therapy in ways that support you. Creative activities are introduced to support a process of exploration and discovery, and are particularly helpful for anyone who struggles to express how they're feeling with words. We can talk about your creations if you choose to, as much or as little as you want.

Arts Counselling

Arts Counselling is a blend of talking therapy and creative art processes designed to help you relax and explore aspects of your life. We will work together to support your wellbeing using creative activities designed to help you release tension, bring relaxation and offer new perspectives. 

I have a wide range of art media and creative processes available including painting, drawing, form drawing, pastels, clay modelling, felt making and more. No prior experience of art making is necessary, I will guide you. Many clients enjoy wet-on-wet painting which can bring new realisations to the surface. Creative activities are chosen together, according to your personal needs and preferences as part of an ongoing process. 

Sandplay Therapy

As a holistic process, Sandplay supports emotional regulation and integration. When guided in a calm, contained way, Sandplay can support emotional balance, helping to reduce anxiety and foster greater self-awareness. It can be helpful for processing trauma, depression, anxiety and complex emotions.

The Sandtray offers a place to create scenes, trace shapes and create forms. A wide range of figures, miniatures and natural items are available. These can be used to represent inner worlds, emotions and experiences. Sand can also be used for sensory exploration. Tactile experiences ae helpful for regulating sensory or emotional overwhelm. In Sandplay therapy, sand gives a grounded connection and access to emotions in a safe, contained space.

I offer a free 20 minute phone call to find out about you and answer any questions you may have. This phone call could be for yourself or on behalf of a family member, friend or partner who is seeking support. Following this, if we feel we're a good match to work together, you can book a first session. 

Beginning Together

At our first session we will explore areas to focus on in our time together and consider ways of working that suit your individual needs and preferences. You might want to talk for the whole session, and if so that is fine. 

If you'd like to, I will guide you to begin a creative process perhaps using paints or pencils, or with the sand tray. If you find this first session helpful we will plan regular sessions together.

Each session is offered for a full hour to give us time for creative activities and processing.

Online Sessions

If working online together, you might choose just to talk. We can also work creatively with art materials that you enjoy using. I can suggest art materials and creative processes that are suitable for the online space.

Working Together

Most people come weekly, but I also offer fortnightly sessions if that suits you. We can work together on a short term basis, for a fixed number of sessions, or on a long term, ongoing basis. Some clients have worked with me for a number of years, finding the process nurturing and transformative. No matter how long or short the journey, I am here to walk alongside you.

To get in touch, please email, message or phone me, I look forward to hearing from you.

Privacy Notice

I work within the Ethical Framework for Counselling Professionals. Full details of this can be found on this website. I am registered with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO). Any information kept for internal record keeping is stored securely in accordance with General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR, 2018). Further information on confidentiality and privacy will be shared during our first session.