I’m Sharon, a lead therapist at I Need Therapy. You can call me on 07378 34 41 02.
I came to this caring profession, similar to Emma, as a second career. Having worked for several years in the city as a financial and general administrator, I also felt drawn to helping people to get the most out of life and deal with whatever issues they might be experiencing. Like Emma, I started a counselling skills introductory course, and developed my skills and learning over the next four years of study and placements
I also undertook my own personal therapy and volunteered my time at different counselling agencies in order to gain experience seeing clients with diverse and complex needs. Since completing my studies, I continued to volunteer my time at a bereavement counselling service.
You can find me on the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) Register and on the Counselling Directory.
Expertise
My main area of expertise is working with clients who experience the usual stresses and anxieties of everyday life. I work with problems in relationships, family issues, domestic violence, coping with illness in the family, loneliness, problems with confidence; and all aspects of mental wellness.
I have extensive experience as a therapist working with clients who have suffered bereavement. This includes loss through long and short-term illness, sudden death, miscarriage and suicide. I also work with parents and carers who are having difficulties with a young person in their care.
I also work with issues around identity, sexuality and gender; having trained with leading trans organisation Gendered Intelligence — Working alongside Trans and Gender Variant people. I am registered on their Directory for Therapists and Counsellors.
It’s great to see attitudes to mental health, emotional wellbeing and counselling evolve. Understanding is widening and more people are talking about their experiences. There is still a lot of work to be done in order to reach people who may not necessarily have access to therapy. We also need to reach people who may not ordinarily think about talking to someone. We hope our work helps lead to changing attitudes.
Most people seek counselling after an event in their lives such as separation or loss. However, you do not necessarily have to be in a crisis situation to seek a counsellor. We are here if you are not sure what the issue may be. Or perhaps you just need a space that is non-judgmental and empathic to talk through your own thoughts and feelings? We believe we can offer that space. If this is something that you feel you would like to try then please contact me to discuss how I may help.