Counselling

Counselling

What is Counselling?

Counselling is a talking therapy where an individual can talk to a trained professional about problems they are facing and emotions they are experiencing. Talking can be a good way to help maintain your emotional and mental health needs just as exercise and a healthy diet can help to maintain your physical health.

A counsellor can provide you with a supportive, non-judgemental and confidential place where you can talk about anything that is troubling you, free from opinions and advice. The counselling relationship aims to give you the time to explore what is happening in your life and to support you to make changes that will be right for you.

We all face difficult, stressful and sad situations at some point in our lives and it can be hard to truly express ourselves to those closest to us for fear of judgement or causing pain to others. Talking to someone who is trained to listen in confidence and without judgement and who is outside your friendship and family network, can be helpful during what may feel like a lonely time.

The power of being listened to and understood is often underestimated. When we feel heard and supported, whatever situation we are up against can feel more bearable and less isolating.

Counselling for Loss & Bereavement

Meet Your Counsellor

Sarah Kirrane

In 2020 I qualified from City Lit, Holborn with a level 4 diploma in therapeutic counselling. I am an integrative counsellor, which means that I am trained and experienced in several therapeutic modalities. I work mostly in a person-centred way but also draw from the Psychodynamic and CBT concepts if I think they will be helpful for you. I will also listen to your preferences, and we will always go at a pace that is comfortable for you.

I believe that the therapeutic relationship is fundamental to the counselling process and is the most important factor which influences how effective therapy is. As my client, your welfare is my priority, and I will listen to you without judging you or forcing my opinions and advice onto you. I cannot promise to ‘fix’ things for you. I will work to understand you and I may from time to time offer suggestions or signpost you to additional sources of information where appropriate.

I am passionate about supporting people as they try to come to terms with a loss they are facing and have worked with many people grieving following the death of a loved one, loss of health, the end of a relationship and more. I am particularly passionate about supporting people who have received challenging health diagnoses, with a focus on autoimmune diseases.

“We think we listen, but very rarely do we listen with real understanding, true empathy. Yet listening of this very special kind, is one of the most potent forces for change that I know.”

— Carl Rogers

FAQs

    • Level 4 diploma in therapeutic counselling

    • Levels 2 and 3 counselling skills

    • Certificate in online and telephone counselling

    • Helpline Counsellor - Vita Health Group

    • Counsellor - Place2be

    • Bereavement Visitor - Bereavement Care (Harrow)

    • Volunteer Counsellor - Childline

    • Ongoing continued professional development

    I am a registered member of the BACP (British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy) and I am bound by their ethical framework for the counselling professions.

  • In Person Sessions - Saturdays 09:00 - 17:00

    Online Sessions - Friday afternoon (availability can change so please contact me for more information)

  • Initial appointment:

    Initial call: 20 minutes - Free of charge

    Initial Consultation: 90 minutes - £85

    Follow up sessions:

    60 minutes - £70

  • Please contact me via email and we can arrange our initial telephone call (free of charge). Once we have spoken on the phone and if we agree that working together may be beneficial for you, we will agree our first consultation session.

    Please note that this appointment is longer than the regular follow up sessions and therefore this time may be different to regular weekly sessions.

    info@skirranecounselling.com

    07792005366

  • Please inform me if you are running late for your session, if possible. If you arrive to your session late, we can continue for the remainder of the session but will still need to finish at the original agreed time.

    If you are unable to attend your session, I do ask for 48 hours’ notice of cancellations. If notice is not provided, and we are not able to find a different time that suits then the full fee will be payable before your next session.

  • Adults, older adult and trainee counsellors.

“Grief doesn’t hit us in tidy phases and stages, nor is it something that we forget and move on from; it is an individual process that has a momentum of its own, and the work involves finding ways of coping with our fear and pain, and adjusting to this new version of ourselves, our ‘new normal”

– Julia Samuel