Sandra Wright

Have some availability  

60-minute sessions can be held face to face, or virtually, and I use various counselling rooms in Bushey,  and the surrounding areas.

Do you offer support to those around you, yet struggle silently and feel as though you are barely holding on? Do you find yourself keeping your deepest thoughts and experiences private, rarely sharing them with others - perhaps because you do not feel heard, or understood?

I specialise in supporting women who feel as though they have been holding everything together for too long, but are now finding it increasingly difficult to cope. Many of my clients experience a sense of overwhelm, burnout, and exhaustion. These feelings can arise after years of consistently wearing a mask, engaging in people-pleasing behaviours, and routinely putting others’ needs before their own - often without fully realising the reasons behind these patterns.

We can use coping strategies that include avoidance or other methods of distraction to get through the day, but these are not beneficial in the long term. Suppressing or ignoring these emotions might offer temporary relief, but over time, this approach can contribute to anxiety, depression, anger, frustration, fatigue, low self-esteem, poor confidence, feelings of overwhelm, stress, sleep disturbances, and physical pain and discomfort.

I support women who have been through significant life events such as ( this list is not exclusive ) Bereavement, Loss, Menopause, Breakdown in relationships, Redundancy, Illness, Pregnancy, Parenting and Work issues. Such challenges might also be compounded by having caring responsibilities for children or relatives, or living with undiagnosed ADHD or autism.

My Professional Background

I have been a qualified counsellor since 2016. In addition to my counselling practice, I have extensive experience as a Learning and Development Coach,  Domestic Abuse Support Worker at Watford Women’s Centre and in Family Support. These positions have provided me with insight into the significant challenges individuals face, deepening my understanding of how overwhelming life can become at times.

I am a Person-Centred Therapist with a preference for Integrative Counselling, which allows me to use various methods suited to you, including CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy).

Maybe you have never shown your true self, or shared your deepest thoughts and feelings with anyone. When we work together, you do not need to use coping strategies you can unmask and show your true self. This is your time and your space, and when we work together, you are free to talk about whatever you need to, in whatever way you wish. I will not be shocked by what you share, and nothing is too big or too small.

In our sessions, you can explore the reasons behind your feelings, thoughts, and behaviours, and consider steps you might take towards change.

Feelings are simply feelings they are not good or bad, and nothing is too big or too small to talk about. However your thoughts are not necessarily facts, and I may gently challenge you when necessary, encouraging you to consider a different perspective about yourself, others, or a situation. With your agreement, I may introduce strategies that will help and support you. 

If you have experienced bereavement or loss (regardless of what kind of loss, or how long ago it happened), we will work through this loss together at your pace.

If you feel that change - including working on boundaries would be helpful, we can discuss strategies tailored to you.

If you are experiencing difficulties (at home, with friends, or at work), we can explore this, and consider ways together to have your needs heard, again including establishing boundaries if needed.

If this resonates with you and you would like to talk more then please contact me for a free initial call. This is so you can ask any questions you have, and I can find out what kind of support you are looking for. The counselling relationship is very important to therapy, and you need to feel comfortable with your therapist.

Prior to our first session I will email you a short form to fill out so I can get a fuller picture of how you are feeling, and we can talk through this if needed. This isn’t a test it’s simply to help me understand a bit more about you. You don’t need to know all the answers, and it’s ok if you’re not sure what you want to say.

I am very aware that starting therapy can be overwhelming and daunting, and you may not know where to start - this is completely normal. Additionally the first session is often a huge relief for clients, as they may have been holding on to buried experiences, thoughts, and feelings for a long time, and they are finally taking time out for themselves to explore, learn, and heal. 

This is your time, and I will be by your side, supporting you each step of the way. Remember that it is okay to take your time to feel comfortable, and be patient with yourself and the process.

As a therapist  you are invited in to a clients inner world to share in their lived experience's, and what makes my work worthwhile is seeing clients  learn about themselves, value themselves, and improve their self-esteem and confidence. Together, we will work on practising self care, reducing your anxiety and depression, and work through trauma and loss.

Thank you for reading this, and I look forward to talking to you and getting to know more about you.

Have some availability

Supporting Women Through Life's Challenges

I specialise in supporting women who feel as though they have been holding everything together for so long, but are now finding it increasingly difficult to cope. Many of my clients experience a sense of overwhelm, burnout, and exhaustion. These feelings can arise after years of consistently wearing a mask, engaging in people pleasing behaviours, and routinely putting others’ needs before their own—often without fully realising the reasons behind these patterns. 

There may be significant life events such as bereavement, breakdown in relationship, redundancy, illness, menopause, anxiety and depression, or illness. 

Such challenges might also be compounded by Domestic Abuse, living with insomnia,  taking on caring responsibilities for children or relatives, or living with undiagnosed ADHD or Autism. 

If any of this resonates with you, please know that you are not alone, and I am here to help.

My Professional Background

I have been a qualified counsellor since 2016, bringing experience from both private practice and various support settings. 

Beyond counselling, I have worked for many years as a learning and development coach, and have supported individuals in roles such as domestic abuse support worker, working in family support centres, and providing care for carers. Through all of these roles, I have witnessed just how much individuals endure, and I understand that life can sometimes feel overwhelming and incredibly challenging.

In the therapy room you don't need to use these coping strategies, you can unmask and show the real you.

Maybe you haven't shown anyone the real you before, and maybe you haven’t shared your innermost thoughts and feelings. 

I am a Person Centred Therapy with a preference for Integrative counselling allowing me to use various methods suited to you including CBT ( Cognitive Behavioural Therapy ). 

My role is to provide a non judgemental space for you to explore the way that you feel in a way that feels comfortable, and supportive for you. In our sessions you can process the reasons behind your feelings, thoughts,  behaviours. 

Feelings are feelings they are not good or bad.

Your thoughts are not facts, and I may also challenge you when necessary so you may consider a different perspective to the one you have about the way you think about your self, others or a situation, and will with your agreement bring in strategies that will help and support you. I believe that everyone is capable of change if needed, and that everyone is capable of deciding what is right for them.

This is your time, and your space, and when we work together you can talk about what ever you want to. I will not be shocked at what you talk about,  and nothing is too big or too small.

If you have experienced bereavement or loss ( doesn't matter how long ago ) we will work through the stages of grief together at your pace.

If you think that change including boundaries should be put in place we can work on what this looks like, and put in place strategies that will work for you. 

If you are having relationship difficulties ( may be home, with friends or at work ) we can we can explore your communication style, where this comes from, and explore together ways of getting your needs heard, and again putting in boundaries if needed.

If you are facing a cross path we can explore your options, and how this may look for you.

The counselling relationship is very important to therapy, and you need to feel comfortable with your therapist.

If you contact me we will have a free introductory chat. This is our opportunity to get to get to know each other, and will help to make sure that I have a picture of what support you would like, and to make sure that I can give you the support you need. This initial chat can be up to an hour if needed.

When we speak I would like to know a little bit about why you’re looking for counselling, and what you would like to work on, and I will let you know about the way that I work. I am very happy to answer any questions you have.

If you would like to proceed I will email you a short form to fill out so I can get a fuller picture of how you are feeling, and we can talk through this if needed. This isn’t a test it’s simply to help me understand a bit more about you. You don’t need to know all the answers, and it’s ok if you’re not sure what you want to say.

Further 50 minutes sessions can be face to face, virtual, by phone, or outdoors, and I can also offer home visits if needed. I use various counselling rooms in, and around Bushey, Watford and surrounding areas.

The first session is often a huge relief for clients as they may have been holding on to buried experiences, thoughts and feelings for a long time, and they are finally making contact. I'm also aware that starting therapy can be overwhelming, and daunting and you may not know where to start, and this is ok .

This is your time, and I will be by your side supporting you each step.

I love what I do and what makes my work worthwhile is seeing clients unmask, talk about themselves in a way they never have before, learn and practice self care, value themselves, and improve their self esteem and confidence. Together, we will work on reducing your anxiety, and depression, and work through trauma and loss. 

Thank you for reading this, and I look forward to talking to you and getting to know more about you.