Sarah Bailey

I work Tuesday to Friday day time and evenings.

As a counsellor, with more than 15 years experience, my aim is to provide positive and solution-focused outcomes from therapy. I also work as a clinical supervisor and lecturer on both psychotherapy and psychology degree programmes.

While I provide general counselling services, I specialise in working with children and young people who suffer from a broad range of mental health presentations.  These include low mood, depression, anxiety, disordered eating and those affected by sexual abuse, as well as those on the autistic spectrum.

My approach is one of bespoke collaboration and regular review, and where appropriate involving the family. I work in a comfortable and purpose built space which allows for therapy to be appropriate to each person I work with.

As a client or parent of a client, the therapeutic journey with me begins from our first point of contact. We will spend some time briefly discussing what you would like to gain from therapy before we arrange our first appointment, with plenty of opportunity for you to ask questions and establish if I am the right counsellor for you and or your child.

I am also Anna Freud Institute trained in MBT for children and parents which allows me to work with families where needed. This allows for a holistic approach; enabling communication to build in a safe environment with appropriate boundaries.

What people have said about working with me:

"My daughter has had a number of counsellors who she didn’t ‘gel’ with but she clicked with Sarah quickly. She felt listened to and said that Sarah was patient and not condescending. I wouldn’t hesitate in recommending Sarah and indeed have done so."

"Sarah has made my son feel comfortable within the first session. Having counselling away from the school environment has been the best decision.

"Sarah is an amazing counsellor, I don't know what we would do without her in my daughter's life."

About me and my practice

I offer a warm, thoughtful and professional counselling service for individuals and young people, providing a safe and supportive space in which clients can explore their thoughts, feelings and experiences.

My practice is centred on the belief that each person is unique, and that therapy should reflect this. I aim to create a respectful, non-judgemental environment where you or your child can feel heard, understood and supported at your own pace.

I work from a comfortable, purpose-built therapy space, designed to allow sessions to be tailored to each individual. This enables me to adapt how I work depending on age, needs and preferences, ensuring therapy feels appropriate and accessible.

My approach

My approach is one of bespoke collaboration, shaped around the needs of each person I work with. I see therapy as a shared and evolving process, where we work together to understand your experiences and identify what may help you move forward.

I aim to build a trusting therapeutic relationship where you feel safe enough to explore difficult feelings, develop insight, and make changes that feel right for you.

My aim

My aim is to provide a supportive, collaborative and responsive therapeutic space where you or your child can feel understood, develop self-awareness, and move towards positive and lasting change.

The first session is an opportunity for us to begin getting to know one another and to start building a sense of safety and trust.

During this session we will:

explore what has brought you to therapy

talk about your hopes and expectations

discuss any relevant background or current difficulties

agree how we will work together going forward

If I am working with a child or young person, the first session may also include time with a parent or carer to gather relevant information and to ensure everyone understands the process and feels comfortable.

There is no pressure to share everything straight away — we will move at a pace that feels right for you or your child.

Ongoing work

Following the initial session, we will continue to meet regularly at an agreed frequency. Sessions are shaped around your needs and may include talking, creative approaches, or other therapeutic activities where appropriate.

I will check in with you regularly to review how the work is progressing and to ensure that therapy continues to meet your needs and goals.

I am an experienced counsellor and supervisor with over 15 years in practice and 9 years’ experience providing clinical supervision. My work is primarily based in private practice, with a particular focus on children and young people (CYP).

Alongside my clinical work, I have also worked as a lecturer, which supports my commitment to ongoing professional development and staying up to date with current training, ethical standards, and legal frameworks within the counselling profession. I continue to work as a trainer.

I have worked across a range of settings including charities, universities, schools and private practice. I have extensive experience supervising trainee counsellors and find that my background as a lecturer enables me to offer a strong understanding of the developmental needs, pressures and learning processes involved in training.

My approach to supervision is supportive, collaborative and reflective, offering a safe and encouraging space for supervisees to explore their work, develop confidence, and grow both professionally and personally.

I offer a reflective supervisory space where we can think together about your client work, your professional development and your well-being as a practitioner. I aim to create a supervisory relationship that feels safe, respectful and containing, while also supporting appropriate challenge and growth.

Within our work together we will attend to clinical work, ethical decision-making, safeguarding where relevant, and the wider context of your practice. I support supervisees in developing their own professional voice and confidence, while remaining grounded in ethical frameworks and good practice.

I have particular experience supporting trainees and early-career counsellors, and I understand the demands of training and placement environments. I also welcome more experienced practitioners looking for a reflective, collaborative supervisory relationship.

Practical aspects such as contracting, confidentiality, record keeping and organisational requirements are discussed and agreed together, ensuring clarity and transparency from the outset.

Our first session is an opportunity for us to get to know one another and begin building a safe, trusting supervisory relationship. We will explore your current role, client work, level of experience, and what you are hoping to gain from supervision.

We will discuss practicalities such as frequency of sessions, confidentiality, and contracting, as well as any organisational requirements you may have. There will also be space for you to bring any immediate client work or concerns if you wish.

I aim for the first session to feel welcoming, containing and collaborative, so that you leave with a clear sense of how we will work together and feel confident that your supervision needs will be supported.

Feedback from supervisees:

"I love my supervision sessions with Sarah, it's one of my favourite aspects of my job. She really listens and hears me. I always feel understood and in a good place mentally when I leave."