Sarah Willcocks , BACP

Sarah Willcocks is a counsellor who helps people manage stress, anxiety, trauma, grief and mood conditions such as bipolar and depression. She also supports those facing addictions, eating and sleeping problems, relationship and intimacy issues, self-esteem struggles, ADHD and career or life changes. Sarah works with people who identify as LGBT and with a wide range of other concerns listed in her practice. Sarah uses a warm, interactive style in sessions. She offers a listening space that aims to be honest, non-judgemental and accepting while allowing each person to lead the pace of the work. Her approach is person-centred, which means she tries to understand what matters to the person sitting opposite her and responds to that. Alongside person-centred ways of working, Sarah draws on solution-focused techniques to set small, practical goals and on motivational interviewing to explore what will help someone make changes. Conversations are practical and paced to suit the individual. She aims to help people build coping strategies and spot steps they can take between sessions. Sarah has 14 years of professional experience and is a member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, BACP. She follows the BACP Ethical Framework and the BACP guidelines for online work. Her practice supports people through a range of life events including bereavement, traumatic loss, abuse, divorce and fertility issues. The work can be short term or longer term depending on what the person wants to achieve. Sessions are offered online by video, phone, chat or text messaging to suit different needs. Sarah encourages a collaborative approach to decide how best to move forward.

How her approaches translate to online counselling

Client-Centred Therapy focuses on offering honest, non-judgemental listening and letting the person guide the conversation. It helps when someone needs to be heard and to work through feelings at their own pace.

Motivational Interviewing helps people explore their own reasons for change and build confidence to make different choices. This approach can support work on addictions, lifestyle shifts or moving through stages of change.

Solution-Focused Therapy looks for small practical steps and attainable goals to make day-to-day life feel more manageable. It is useful when someone wants clear short-term aims and actions to try between sessions.

Finding the right mix of approaches is part of the work together. The therapist will talk through options and agree a plan based on the persons goals, needs and preferences. That collaborative process makes it easier to adapt the methods used as progress is made.

Online sessions by video, phone, live chat or text messaging give flexibility to fit therapy around work, family and travel. Video calls are good for face-to-face conversation, phone sessions work when bandwidth is limited, and chat or messaging can suit quick check-ins or those who prefer not to use audio. These formats make it easier to attend regularly and to keep momentum between appointments.