Sarah Atkinson

A conversation with Sarah Atkinson

• What led you to choose psychotherapy or counselling as a profession?

  I’ve always been drawn to listening deeply and supporting people to make sense of their lives. Counselling allows me to walk alongside others as they navigate challenges, honour their experiences, and reconnect with their strengths, values, and hopes. Narrative therapy, in particular, resonates with my belief that people are the experts of their own lives.
  

• Which philosophical approaches have influenced your professional development?

  My practice is shaped by narrative therapy, trauma-informed care, and a relational, strengths-based approach. I am inspired by philosophies that prioritise collaboration, respect for lived experience, and the social and cultural contexts that shape human life. I also draw on somatic awareness and reflective practice to support holistic wellbeing.

• Which particular aspects of health or the human journey are you interested in?

  I am interested in how people navigate identity, relationships, and transitions, including experiences of trauma, stress, and life change. I’m particularly drawn to supporting people to reconnect with their values, uncover hidden strengths, and explore new ways of living that align with what matters most to them.

• What methods do you use?

  My work is grounded in narrative therapy and collaborative, client-centred practice. I support people to separate themselves from problems through externalising conversations and to explore the absent but implicit values, hopes, and commitments that point toward preferred ways of living. Together we develop re-authoring conversations that strengthen alternative stories, skills, and identities. My approach is trauma-informed and incorporates gentle somatic awareness to support safety, regulation, and connection with the body.
  
  Methods I Use
  
  Narrative Therapy
  Externalising Conversations
  Re-authoring Conversations
  Absent but Implicit Listening
  Mapping the Effects of Problems
  Identifying Unique Outcomes
  Trauma-Informed Practice
  Somatic Awareness & Regulation
  Strengths-Based & Collaborative Practice

• When do you think the client will start to feel that progress is being made?

  Many clients start to notice small shifts after two or three sessions, as the therapeutic relationship is being built. Progress often emerges as people begin to see problems as separate from themselves and reconnect with their strengths, values, and preferred ways of living. Change happens at a pace that feels right for each person.

• How has therapy made a difference in your life?

  Therapy has taught me the power of reflection, story, and connection. It has helped me notice patterns, strengthen my values, and develop greater compassion for myself and others. These experiences shape my work, allowing me to approach clients with empathy, curiosity, and a belief in the capacity for growth and meaningful change.
  I have seen a number of therapists and supervisors in my life and this has been so enriching throughout various life chapters. They have helped me to put the puzzle pieces in place and make sense of some of my own life experiences.

• What do you like most about being a therapist?

  I love witnessing the small but powerful shifts that happen when someone begins to see themselves apart from their problems. Being part of that process—listening deeply, exploring stories, and supporting people to reconnect with their values, strengths, and hopes—is incredibly rewarding. I also value the collaborative nature of therapy, where learning and growth happen together.

• Do you ever have 'bad hair' days?

  Absolutely! I’m human, just like my clients. I might have an off morning or a messy hair day, but when I step into a session, my focus is fully on the person I’m working with. Therapy is about creating a safe, attentive space, and that’s always my priority—hair aside!
  I have often had people ask how I do this work - and I do have a lot of support to do it. I have regular supervision, I have peer supervision, mentors - as well as my family (my kids 2 and 5 certainly keep me grounded when I'm home!). I have developed ways of nourishing my own life and working towards my own personal development as a person so when I have those harder days - I know where to go.

• What do you think is the most significant problem we face, in the world today?

  One of the most significant challenges is disconnection—between people, communities, and even within ourselves. Many struggles stem from isolation, lack of belonging, and societal pressures that make it hard to feel seen or understood. I hope that therapy can help people reconnect with themselves and others, and cultivate resilience, empathy, and meaningful relationships.
  A number of people I have spoken to recently have been troubled by wars going on and climate change. These are very real issues we are contending with, and hopefully therapy can be a space that can provide some way of making sense of these issues.
  

• Can you share the name of a book, film, song, event or work of art that inspires you?

  A book I have read recently is the House on the Cerulean Sea - I found this beautiful book so refreshing and whimsical - I loved the characters and how the story cracked open the role of love and care and how so much is possible when those are held central.