If something is bothering you emotionally it can feel difficult to know what to do about it. Just making the first step to finding a counsellor can be a big step towards feeling better.
In counselling, you are encouraged to explore your thoughts and feelings in a confidential and supportive space. You might have a strong sense of what is troubling you, or you might not feel so clear – either way we gently look at what is going on for you, and often this can give you a new perspective and greater insight into whatever is causing you distress.
"Sarah is incredibly warm and would make anyone feel at ease and able to pour out their thoughts and fears. I did just that and after a couple of sessions began to see my thoughts and feelings in some perspective. Even see the funnier side of my darker moments." (Sophie, Edinburgh)
Counselling is completely confidential and can work for people in many different situations, including:
Counselling for infertility:
If you are struggling to conceive or remain pregnant, it can be a very isolating experience for a variety of reasons. Some people feel as though they have ‘failed’ in some way, and others don’t want to tell people in case they ‘get left behind.’ Finding a confidential space to talk about how you’re really feeling, without worrying about judgement, can help support you.
Counselling in Pregnancy:
Many women report feeling low or anxious during pregnancy, and think that this is just due to hormonal changes or tiredness. How you feel during your pregnancy can affect both you and your baby, and often counselling helps people realise where these feelings come from.
Being anxious or depressed during pregnancy is more common than we think, and getting help at this stage is a great way to start your relationship with your unborn child, as it can help change patterns of thinking that you didn’t even realise were there.
Counselling in pregnancy has been shown to help reduce the likelihood of developing postnatal depression, whether or not you have a diagnosed mental health issue in pregnancy.
"There were times in labour when I wondered if I could cope with what lay ahead but then I remembered some of the things we discussed and that put me back on track again... ...Thank you so much for all your help in getting me ready mentally. There were a lot of issues following my first birth which I hadn't addressed at all before speaking to you. Having worked through my biggest fears and anxieties with you I was able to deal with them head on and stay in control. I think it was one of the main factors in getting the birth we really wanted." (L, Edinburgh)
Counselling after Birth:
At least 1 in 10 women will have postnatal depression or anxiety after having a baby (although the figure is possibly much higher), and it sometimes doesn’t start until several months after the baby is born. If you find you are struggling, whether or not you have a diagnosis of postnatal depression or anxiety, having a supportive space to talk about your feelings can ‘normalise’ your experience and help you realise what might be preventing you from enjoying this stage.
Postnatal anxiety can be harder to notice than postnatal depression, because it's not as talked about. If you're struggling as a mother but not sure you have depression, it might help to hear some of Sarah Wheatley's thoughts on Radio 4, talking with Jenni Murray about postnatal anxiety.
Counselling for Birth Trauma:
If you find yourself traumatised by the birth of your child (even if it seemed ‘normal’) counselling can help you move on rather than being ‘stuck’ with the feelings. If you are still having flashbacks or find that certain things trigger extreme anxiety, this is not normal and can be resolved. Counselling for trauma can seem slightly different to other kinds of counselling, since we take care to make sure that you feel very relaxed and in control during the sessions.
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) is one of the therapies we offer as it can be especially helpful for relieving trauma symptoms. You can learn more about it here.
Counselling before getting pregnant:
Some people find that they are terrified of giving birth (called Tokophobia). This can happen to first time parents, or after struggling with a previous birth. This can make it hard to contemplate getting pregnant.
Often judgement (our own, or other people’s) can interfere with our ability to move forward. Counselling can provide a judgement-free zone where you can explore where your fears come from and what that means for you, helping you make decisions with greater insight and kindness towards yourself.
Maternity Counselling and Coaching:
Sometimes there isn’t anything that feels ‘wrong’ but you want to make sure that you approach pregnancy and parenthood in a way that feels prepared and empowered. Maternity Counselling and Coaching can help you identify any areas that might be tricky for you, and to put strategies and resources in place to help you have the best possible experience of becoming a parent.
Counselling before returning to work:
It can be hard to balance lots of competing pressures as a parent, and this can be especially true when returning to work. Talking to someone about your feelings or concerns can help you make more sense of them, remove any judgement and feel more peace in the decisions that you make.
Our approach is a mixture of counselling and coaching, which means that you can explore your feelings and also put in place practical strategies to help you during the transition.
Counselling due to a life event such as bereavement, loss of a job, or anything else:
Life doesn’t stop when you’re pregnant or have a baby, and it can be even harder to cope with big losses when you are adjusting to the life event of having a baby. Many people don’t have time to process the loss of a loved one whilst they are pregnant, and the emotions can start to affect them after the baby is born.
Life events such as losing a job or moving house can also take their toll. Expecting yourself to cope can put you under a lot of strain that can come out in ways that you find upsetting. Counselling can give you that extra bit of support to process what has gone on for you.
"I have just completed 8 sessions with Sarah, and I can honestly say that when I think back to how poorly I was a few weeks ago compared to how I feel now, I am like a different person." (Kirsty, Edinburgh)
Prices, location, logistics and timings:
You will have an initial brief conversation with Sarah Wheatley, in order for you both to think about what might be most helpful for you.
Sessions are 50 minutes long and you meet once a week, unless otherwise agreed. It is difficult to know how long it will take, but we suggest allowing for a minimum of 6-10 sessions, although sometimes we might agree to carry on for longer depending on the work we are doing.
If you decide to come for an initial consultation, you will be sent some questions, a copy of the client/ counsellor agreement that must be signed and returned before the session (details of how to do this electronically are on the form) and the suggested fee scale to think about prior to the appointment.
The initial consultation is 1 hour, and you and your therapist will think about what’s going on for you and see how you both feel about working together. It is an opportunity for you to talk about what your hopes are for therapy, think about what your options are, organise the practicalities, and for you and your therapist to consider if that relationship will be a good ‘fit’ before proceeding further. If you decide not to work together you and your therapist will consider other options during the initial consultation.
For self-funded clients, sessions with Sarah cost £75-85. Costs are discussed at the initial consultation. If you have health insurance, please mention this as some insurers will pay for counselling services.
Face to face sessions with Sarah take place in her Portobello office. Online sessions are via Zoom, a secure video meeting service. This can be helpful if you live far away, have difficulty accessing sessions due to lack of childcare, or else you don’t feel comfortable leaving your home for any other reason.
If you are a new mother, you and your therapist need to consider whether you have your baby with you or not. Sometimes it is a helpful part of our work together to have the baby there, and sometimes you might need to have space without your baby. You can discuss this when you first meet, with or without the baby. We generally don’t recommend that babies who are moving a lot (often from 6 months upwards) attend sessions, as that can make it very hard for you to have the space you may need.
We are really happy to chat about any of these things, so please get in contact if you would like more information.