Sara Van Vliet

I am an integrative counsellor working with adults, children and young people. I believe that the therapeutic relationship is at the heart of good counselling, and I aim to create a space where you can feel safe, heard and accepted without judgement.

I have experience supporting people who have been affected by domestic abuse, both current and historic, as well as clients experiencing anxiety, depression, addiction, trauma, loss and difficult life transitions. I have a particular interest in the emotional wellbeing of children and young people and have experience supporting children, parents and special guardians where family life, relationships or difficult experiences have become challenging.

I am particularly interested in the relationship between our psychological wellbeing and the environments in which we live and spend time. My own therapeutic practice is increasingly exploring the potential of nature and the ocean to support connection, emotional regulation and wellbeing. Alongside Blue Opal Counselling, I am developing and piloting Ocean Bridge Therapy, an emerging nature- and ocean-informed approach.

I believe therapy should be a collaborative process. Rather than assuming there is one way of working, I listen carefully to what you need and draw on different therapeutic approaches to help you make sense of your experiences and move towards meaningful change.

I offer a warm, compassionate and non-judgemental space where you can slow down, make sense of what you are experiencing and explore what might help.

My approach is integrative, which means I don't believe therapy should be a 'one size fits all' experience. I draw on different therapeutic approaches and tailor our work to you, your circumstances, your age and what you want from counselling.

I work collaboratively, at your pace, and believe that feeling genuinely heard and understood is an important part of the therapeutic process. Depending on your needs, our work may involve exploring thoughts, feelings, relationships and past experiences, developing greater emotional awareness and regulation, or finding new ways of understanding yourself and moving forward.

I also have a particular interest in the therapeutic relationship between people and the natural environment. Where appropriate to the work, I am interested in exploring how nature and the ocean can support wellbeing, connection and emotional regulation. This interest is informing the development of my emerging Ocean Bridge Therapy practice.

I offer a free 30-minute informal consultation before we begin counselling.

This is an opportunity for us to meet, talk about what has brought you to counselling and for you to ask any questions you may have about how I work.

Finding the right counsellor is important, and the consultation gives you the opportunity to get a sense of whether you feel comfortable talking with me and whether my approach feels right for you. There is no obligation to continue.

If we decide to work together, we will discuss what you would like from counselling, agree how we will work together and arrange a regular session time where possible.

I believe the first step is about creating a sense of safety and trust. You don't need to arrive knowing exactly what you want to say or have everything figured out — we can begin wherever you are.

I am an integrative counsellor working with adults, children and young people throughout the UK online. I believe that the therapeutic relationship is at the heart of good counselling, and I aim to create a space where you can feel safe, heard and accepted without judgement.

I have experience supporting people affected by domestic abuse, both current and historic, as well as clients experiencing anxiety, depression, addiction, trauma, loss and difficult life transitions. I have a particular interest in the emotional wellbeing of children and young people and experience supporting children, parents and special guardians where family life, relationships or difficult experiences have become challenging.

I am particularly interested in the relationship between our psychological wellbeing and the environments in which we live and spend time. My practice is increasingly exploring the potential of nature and the ocean to support connection, emotional regulation and wellbeing. Alongside Blue Opal Counselling, I am developing and piloting Ocean Bridge Therapy, an emerging nature- and ocean-informed approach.

I work collaboratively and at your pace, drawing on different therapeutic approaches according to your individual needs, circumstances and goals.

Online counselling can offer a private, flexible and accessible space to explore what is happening in your life, wherever you are in the UK.

I offer a warm, compassionate and non-judgemental space where you can slow down, make sense of your experiences and explore what might help. My approach is integrative, which means I don't believe therapy should be a 'one size fits all' experience. I draw on different therapeutic approaches and tailor our work to you, your circumstances, your age and what you want from counselling.

I believe that feeling genuinely heard and understood is central to therapeutic work. We will work collaboratively and at a pace that feels manageable for you.

Although my developing practice has a particular interest in nature, the ocean and wellbeing, online counselling allows me to work with people across the UK who may not have access to this type of therapeutic perspective locally.

You don't need to have everything figured out before you begin. We can start wherever you are.

I offer a free 30-minute informal online consultation before we begin counselling.

This is an opportunity for us to meet, talk about what has brought you to counselling and for you to ask any questions about how I work.

Finding the right counsellor is important, and the consultation gives you the opportunity to get a sense of whether you feel comfortable talking with me and whether my approach feels right for you. There is no obligation to continue.

If we decide to work together, we will discuss what you would like from counselling, agree how we will work together and arrange a regular session time where possible.

You don't need to arrive knowing exactly what you want to say or have everything figured out. We can begin wherever you are.