Sarah Barfield Counselling
counselling in Stoney Stanton, Leicestershire and online
Welcome to Sarah Barfield Counselling
Professional and empowering therapy you can trust.
About Me
Hi, I'm Sarah, and I believe that whilst life can be tough for all of us at one time or another, accessing support to cope with its ups and downs really shouldn't be.
I am a fully qualified, compassionate counsellor benefitting from over ten years experience in the support/therapy field with ethical membership registration to the BACP. My experience in roles such as; Victim Support Caseworker, Independent Sexual Violence Advisor, Specialist Domestic and Sexual Abuse Counsellor and Parent Counsellor, mean that I have worked alongside a great variety of clients, with a wide range of presenting issues and challenges. I provide professional and empathic counselling remotely via Teams or phone and face to face in Stoney Stanton, easily accessible from Hinckley, Leicester and wider Leicestershire.
I am a strong believer that our mental health should be acknowledged and treated on an equal level as our physical health, and making that time for you in therapy can be a crucial part in prioritising taking care of yourself.
Having worked in the charitable sector for considerable time with sexual and domestic abuse, I have developed a specialism in therapeutically supporting recovery from trauma, liaising with other professionals and practitioners to build stronger, more empowered communities through partnership working and working in a way which blends professionalism with approachability and compassion. I am also pre-trial therapy trained, meaning that I can support you a way which feels safe and knowledgable, without affecting any criminal justice outcomes, if you have made a disclosure as a victim of a crime. This is a growing area and yet, one which is surrounded with myths and a huge amount of misunderstanding. However, I will take things at your pace so that you can start to process the events that have happened to you in a manner which feels safe and trustworthy, understanding that this may have been the first time you have ever made a disclosure of this kind or opened up on this level and that alone, takes an overwhelming amount of strength and motivation.
Between 2024-2025, I also worked as a Parent Counsellor for an Alternative Family Wellbeing Project in NW Leicestershire, which equipped me with additional skills in supporting difficulties associated with parenting, family and relationships and neurodiversity. Alongside this, I completed training with SANDS in order to work with parents trying to find a way forward in the aftermath of stillbirth, miscarriage or child loss. Some of these life experiences and adversities remain shrouded in stigma or taboo, meaning people are consistently going without support or facing long waiting lists for statutory/charitable services. Reach out to me today if you want to move forward and take the first step in gaining control of your mental health and wellbeing without fear of disbelief, judgement or rejection. I may not be able to carry your pain but I can be by your side as you learn to bear or overcome it.
Counselling with Me
As a counsellor, my role is to provide the right environment and professional relationship for you to feel you can open up freely about the things that may be getting in the way of you living your everyday life, without fear of judgement or being told what to do.
How often in life, do we seek to talk our problems through with friends and family but feel that we haven't actually been understood, actively heard, or that we have just walked away having been told what they would have done in a similar situation? How many times do we shoulder the weight of our problems alone, out of concern for the impact offloading them may have on the ones we love most? How common is it for us to just keep carrying on as we feel we have "no other choice?"
Counselling can offer you a much needed space to start to take the time to process and navigate life's challenges and obstacles, in a way which feels right for you, as an individual in your own right with your own history, background and story to tell.
Whilst the goals we set for your time in therapy will be personalised around you, counselling can have huge outcomes for your mental health, relationships and sense of self, equipping you with a greater understanding of your identity, thoughts and behaviours. It can also help toward clearer decision making and developing independent coping mechanisms that will stay with you long after your time in therapy.
Person-Centred Therapy, specifically, puts you in the driving seat of your counselling journey, allowing you full autonomy and direction in the therapeutic process. I will act as a facilitator, always being guided by you in terms of what you choose to explore and when. I will actively listen and reflect on your situation alongside you but I won't look to direct you or tell you what to do as ultimately, I believe its more important for you to take the lead in finding a path forward.
On occasion, to further exploration we may use other creative tools and resources such as shells and stones, Russian Dolls and worksheets to dive deeper into your experience. However, these elements will only every be introduced with your consent and if it feels appropriate in the moment.
Location
I work from my counselling room in Therapy Station before 5b church Street which is easily accessible from areas such as Stoney Stanton, Elmesthorpe and Sapcote. I also offer online sessions available via Teams or phone.
Fees
Once therapy begins, sessions are 50 minutes long, providing me with a little time to write up some brief and factual notes from our time together and, you with an extra 10 minutes to ground and restabilize yourself before going back into the demands of everyday life. Therapy can be a challenging, yet worthwhile process to engage in and so I always recommend working into your routine some time afterward to grab a drink, take a walk, complete some breathing exercises or simply have a relaxing journey home.
Fees are £50 per session, but I am also able to offer concessions for students requiring therapeutic hours for the completion of therapeutic courses at college or university.
Payment is required 24hrs in advance, as is cancellation, and can be made with ease via BACS transfer. Please let me know if you do not have access to internet banking and we may be able to find a way forward.
Please note, I am unable to work with clients outside of the UK.
Get in touch
I understand that the decision to start therapy is life altering and requires you to be in the right frame of mind to want to initiate change. I also appreciate that counselling relies heavily upon finding the right therapist to connect with. Therefore, I am happy to offer a free 20-30 minute initial contact call in which we can get to know one another, answer any questions you might have and gather some more information about the presenting issues you might be bringing with you. If at the end of this conversation, you do not feel ready or the way I work is not the right fit for you, that is absolutely fine, I will do my best to signpost you elsewhere to a more appropriate agency/practitioner, so that you still go away feeling informed about your next, available steps.
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