Sally Shanahan

I currently have some availability for new enquiries. I offer daytime and evening appointments online. If you don鈥檛 see an appointment that works for you, just contact me, I can often be quite flexible and might be able to accommodate you. 

I work with teenagers, young people and adults, who may or may not, appear to be coping on the outside, but are feeling anxious, overwhelmed, low, angry, confused or maybe numb on the inside.

You might be going to school, college, uni or work, meeting expectations, or doing what鈥檚 expected of you, while feeling confused about what鈥檚 going on or not knowing who you can talk to. Many people come to me knowing exactly what they want help with, while many just know that life feels difficult and coping each day, is taking more effort than it should.

I work with people living with chronic illness or ongoing health conditions, where managing daily life can require constant adjustment, planning ahead and just not knowing. You may feel frustrated with your body, guilty for needing rest, or pressured to appear 鈥渇ine鈥� even when things feel hard. Living with illness can affect mood, identity, relationships, and self-worth, and these experiences deserve space and understanding.

I offer counselling online for teenagers, young people and adults, experiencing anxiety, stress, low mood, friendship or relationship difficulties, self-criticism, the pressures of expectations, feeling lonely, feeling angry and much more. A space where you don鈥檛 need to perform, impress, or explain yourself perfectly. We work together at a pace that feels manageable and safe for you. 

Many years of experience working with young people has given me a strong understanding of emotional development, the pressures of school and social life, and how expectations, peer relationships, and authority can shape how emotions are managed or hidden. This all informs my ability to work with, and relate to, teenagers and young people. As adults, these experiences may follow us, impacting our thoughts, feelings, how we interact with others, influencing how we approach every day life and its challenges. By paying close attention to how you have learnt to adapt, cope, or stay safe emotionally, often without realising it, I work to understand how life feels for you right now.

For some of us, these patterns show up in adulthood as self-criticism, difficulty trusting others, feeling responsible for everyone else鈥檚 needs, or struggling to feel safe enough to rest or ask for help. These ways of coping, often developed in response to early experiences that felt overwhelming, unpredictable, or emotionally unsafe. This may include childhood experiences that taught you to hide, manage, or minimise your feelings. You may not think that you had a difficult childhood or that what you experienced was significant, yet you still notice difficulties today. Together, we can gently explore your challenges, at a pace that feels right for you.

Online sessions with me, offer a confidential and non judgemental space where you can talk, think, or simply be, with no expectations. Our work together is shaped around what feels safest and most helpful for you.

My work is integrative which means I am able to draw on and combine many different approaches, dependant on you as an individual and what feels right. However, my warmth and attentiveness remains consistent throughout. My aim is to help you feel more comfortable being you, more able to express what you need, and less alone with what you鈥檙e carrying.

I understand how hard it can be to make initial contact about therapy. You can phone, text or email me, whichever feels most comfortable for you, and I will try my best to put you at ease.

I offer a free phone conversation or online video call before your first session, where we can have a chat about what you鈥檙e looking for. Although, you may not know what that is, and that鈥檚 ok. I can explain a little more about how I work and we can both decide whether we could be a good fit and work together. If you feel that I might be someone that you could trust and potentially let into your world, we can then arrange your first session.

It is quite common to feel nervous before your first session, or to worry about what you鈥檙e supposed to say. There really is no right or wrong way to begin, and you don鈥檛 need to have anything prepared. I will try to get a sense of what feels most important for you right now. We might talk about what鈥檚 been going on for you recently or what made you reach out. You won鈥檛 be expected to share anything that you don鈥檛 feel ready to and we鈥檒l go at a pace that feels manageable for you.

Some people talk a lot in their first session while some need more time to settle. Both are completely okay. My aim is to help you feel as comfortable as possible, and listened to. I might also encourage you to notice how you feel during the session and whether the space feels like a place where you could talk more openly over time. Therapy works best when the relationship feels right, and the first session is as much about seeing how it feels for you, as it is about deciding what support might be helpful going forward.

Adults

I currently have some availability for new enquiries. I offer daytime and evening appointments, as well as Saturday morning sessions. Messages are usually responded to within a few working days. If I am unable to offer sessions, I will let you know as soon as possible and, where appropriate, suggest other sources of support.

I work with adults who may appear to be coping on the outside, while feeling anxious, overwhelmed, low, or emotionally stuck inside. You might be managing work, relationships, or family life while feeling unsure how to explain what鈥檚 going on, or noticing that coping is taking more effort than it once did. Some people come to therapy with a clear reason; others simply sense that something is no longer sustainable.

I offer private counselling in Northamptonshire for adults experiencing anxiety, emotional overwhelm, low mood, relationship difficulties, self-criticism, or a persistent feeling of pressure to keep going. Therapy is a space where you don鈥檛 need to perform, justify yourself, or have everything worked out. We work at a pace that feels manageable, respectful, and safe.

My work with adults is informed by a strong understanding of how earlier experiences, relationships, and expectations can continue to shape emotional life over time. I pay close attention to how patterns of coping develop, including ways of taking responsibility, staying in control, or keeping emotions contained in order to manage everyday life.

My approach is integrative and relational, but above all it is warm and attentive. I listen carefully for what sits underneath what is being said, including feelings that are hard to put into words and patterns that may keep repeating. Many adults I work with describe feeling responsible for others, emotionally held together, easily overwhelmed, or caught between wanting closeness and needing distance. These responses are not treated as problems to fix, but as understandable ways of coping.

In therapy, we gently explore emotions, notice how stress shows up in the body, and begin to make sense of how earlier experiences may still be influencing how things feel now. The aim is to help you feel more at ease with yourself, more able to express what you need, and less alone with what you鈥檙e carrying.

My practice offers private counselling for adults in Northamptonshire who are finding things emotionally difficult, even if life looks manageable on the outside. Many people come feeling anxious, overwhelmed, low in mood, or emotionally stretched, often while continuing to meet the demands of work, relationships, and family life.

Sessions provide a steady, confidential space where you can talk, think, or sit quietly without pressure to explain everything or know where to begin. Some sessions involve talking through current difficulties; others focus more on slowing things down and making sense of feelings over time. There is no expectation to 鈥渄o therapy properly鈥�.

Our work together is shaped around what feels most supportive and manageable for you. Attention is given to pace, boundaries, and emotional safety, particularly for those who are used to holding things together, taking responsibility, or minimising their own needs. Confidentiality is handled with care and explained clearly, with professional and ethical responsibilities always in mind.

The aim of my practice is to offer a space where you feel listened to, taken seriously, and supported in understanding yourself more fully, so that emotions feel less overwhelming and everyday life becomes easier to navigate. 

It鈥檚 very common to feel uncertain before a first session, or to wonder what you鈥檙e supposed to say. Many people arrive feeling unsure where to begin, or worried about saying the 鈥渨rong鈥� thing. Some come with a clear reason for seeking therapy; others simply know that coping has started to cost more than it used to. There are no expectations, and you don鈥檛 need to have anything prepared.

The first session is a chance for us to meet and begin to understand what feels most important for you right now. We might talk about what has been happening recently, what you鈥檙e finding difficult, or what led you to seek support at this point. There is no pressure to give a full history or to have everything worked out.

I will help guide the conversation gently, paying attention to both what is said and what may be harder to put into words. We take things at a pace that feels manageable, with space to pause, reflect, or slow things down if needed. The aim is not to rush towards solutions, but to begin understanding what鈥檚 going on beneath the surface.

You are also encouraged to notice how you feel in the session and whether this feels like a space where you could think, feel, and speak more freely over time. Therapy works best when the relationship feels right, and the first session is an opportunity for you to get a sense of whether working together feels like a good fit.

I work with teenagers, young people and adults, who may or may not, appear to be coping on the outside, but are feeling anxious, overwhelmed, low, angry, confused or maybe numb on the inside.

You might be going to school, college, uni or work, meeting expectations, or doing what鈥檚 expected of you, while feeling confused about what鈥檚 going on or not knowing who you can talk to. Many people come to me knowing exactly what they want help with, while many just know that life feels difficult and coping each day, is taking more effort than it should.

I work with people living with chronic illness or ongoing health conditions, where managing daily life can require constant adjustment, planning ahead and just not knowing. You may feel frustrated with your body, guilty for needing rest, or pressured to appear 鈥渇ine鈥� even when things feel hard. Living with illness can affect mood, identity, relationships, and self-worth, and these experiences deserve space and understanding.

I offer counselling online for teenagers, young people and adults, experiencing anxiety, stress, low mood, friendship or relationship difficulties, self-criticism, the pressures of expectations, feeling lonely, feeling angry and much more. A space where you don鈥檛 need to perform, impress, or explain yourself perfectly. We work together at a pace that feels manageable and safe for you. 

Many years of experience working with young people has given me a strong understanding of emotional development, the pressures of school and social life, and how expectations, peer relationships, and authority can shape how emotions are managed or hidden. This all informs my ability to work with, and relate to, teenagers and young people. As adults, these experiences may follow us, impacting our thoughts, feelings, how we interact with others, influencing how we approach every day life and its challenges. By paying close attention to how you have learnt to adapt, cope, or stay safe emotionally, often without realising it, I work to understand how life feels for you right now.

For some of us, these patterns show up in adulthood as self-criticism, difficulty trusting others, feeling responsible for everyone else鈥檚 needs, or struggling to feel safe enough to rest or ask for help. These ways of coping, often developed in response to early experiences that felt overwhelming, unpredictable, or emotionally unsafe. This may include childhood experiences that taught you to hide, manage, or minimise your feelings. You may not think that you had a difficult childhood or that what you experienced was significant, yet you still notice difficulties today. Together, we can gently explore your challenges, at a pace that feels right for you.

Online sessions with me, offer a confidential and non judgemental space where you can talk, think, or simply be, with no expectations. Our work together is shaped around what feels safest and most helpful for you.

My work is integrative which means I am able to draw on and combine many different approaches, dependant on you as an individual and what feels right. However, my warmth and attentiveness remains consistent throughout. My aim is to help you feel more comfortable being you, more able to express what you need, and less alone with what you鈥檙e carrying.

I understand how hard it can be to make initial contact about therapy. You can phone, text or email me, whichever feels most comfortable for you, and I will try my best to put you at ease.

I offer a free phone conversation or online video call before your first session, where we can have a chat about what you鈥檙e looking for. Although, you may not know what that is, and that鈥檚 ok. I can explain a little more about how I work and we can both decide whether we could be a good fit and work together. If you feel that I might be someone that you could trust and potentially let into your world, we can then arrange your first session.

It is quite common to feel nervous before your first session, or to worry about what you鈥檙e supposed to say. There really is no right or wrong way to begin, and you don鈥檛 need to have anything prepared. I will try to get a sense of what feels most important for you right now. We might talk about what鈥檚 been going on for you recently or what made you reach out. You won鈥檛 be expected to share anything that you don鈥檛 feel ready to and we鈥檒l go at a pace that feels manageable for you.

Some people talk a lot in their first session while some need more time to settle. Both are completely okay. My aim is to help you feel as comfortable as possible, and listened to. I might also encourage you to notice how you feel during the session and whether the space feels like a place where you could talk more openly over time. Therapy works best when the relationship feels right, and the first session is as much about seeing how it feels for you, as it is about deciding what support might be helpful going forward.

I currently have some availability for new enquiries. I offer daytime and evening appointments, both online and in-person in Northamptonshire. If you don鈥檛 see an appointment that works for you, just contact me, I can often be quite flexible and might be able to accommodate you. 

I work with teenagers, young people and adults, who may or may not, appear to be coping on the outside, but are feeling anxious, overwhelmed, low, angry, confused or maybe numb on the inside.

You might be going to school, college, uni or work, meeting expectations, or doing what鈥檚 expected of you, while feeling confused about what鈥檚 going on or not knowing who you can talk to. Many people come to me knowing exactly what they want help with, while many just know that life feels difficult and coping each day, is taking more effort than it should.

I work with people living with chronic illness or ongoing health conditions, where managing daily life can require constant adjustment, planning ahead and just not knowing. You may feel frustrated with your body, guilty for needing rest, or pressured to appear 鈥渇ine鈥� even when things feel hard. Living with illness can affect mood, identity, relationships, and self-worth, and these experiences deserve space and understanding.

I offer counselling in Northamptonshire for teenagers, young people and adults, experiencing anxiety, stress, low mood, friendship or relationship difficulties, self-criticism, the pressures of expectations, feeling lonely, feeling angry and much more. My therapy room is a space where you don鈥檛 need to perform, impress, or explain yourself perfectly. We work together at a pace that feels manageable and safe for you. 

Many years of experience working with young people has given me a strong understanding of emotional development, the pressures of school and social life, and how expectations, peer relationships, and authority can shape how emotions are managed or hidden. This all informs my ability to work with, and relate to, teenagers and young people. As adults, these experiences may follow us, impacting our thoughts, feelings, how we interact with others, influencing how we approach every day life and its challenges. By paying close attention to how you have learnt to adapt, cope, or stay safe emotionally, often without realising it, I work to understand how life feels for you right now. 

For some of us, these patterns show up in adulthood as self-criticism, difficulty trusting others, feeling responsible for everyone else鈥檚 needs, or struggling to feel safe enough to rest or ask for help. These ways of coping, often developed in response to early experiences that felt overwhelming, unpredictable, or emotionally unsafe. This may include childhood experiences that taught you to hide, manage, or minimise your feelings. You may not think that you had a difficult childhood or that what you experienced was significant, yet you still notice difficulties today. Together, we can gently explore your challenges, at a pace that feels right for you.

Sessions with me, whether online or in-person in Northamptonshire, offer a confidential and non judgemental space where you can talk, think, or simply be, with absolutely no expectations. Our work together is shaped around what feels safest and most helpful for you.

My work is integrative which means I am able to draw on and combine many different approaches, dependant on you as an individual and what feels right. However, my warmth and attentiveness remains consistent throughout. My aim is to help you feel more comfortable being you, more able to express what you need, and less alone with what you鈥檙e carrying.

I completely understand how hard to can be to make initial contact about therapy. You can phone, text or email me, whichever feels most comfortable for you, and I will try my best to put you at ease.

I offer a free phone conversation or online video call before your first session, where we can have a chat about what you鈥檙e looking for. Although, you may not know what that is, and that鈥檚 ok. I can explain a little more about how I work and we can both decide whether we could be a good fit and work together. If you feel that I might be someone that you could trust and potentially let into your world, we can then arrange your first session.

It is quite common to feel nervous before your first session, or to worry about what you鈥檙e supposed to say. There really is no right or wrong way to begin, and you don鈥檛 need to have anything prepared. I will try to get a sense of what feels most important for you right now. We might talk about what鈥檚 been going on for you recently or what made you reach out. You won鈥檛 be expected to share anything that you don鈥檛 feel ready to and we鈥檒l go at a pace that feels manageable for you.

Some people talk a lot in their first session while some need more time to settle. Both are completely okay. My aim is to help you feel as comfortable as possible, and to create a space where you feel listened to. I might also encourage you to notice how you feel during the session and whether the space feels like a place where you could talk more openly over time. Therapy works best when the relationship feels right, and the first session is as much about seeing how it feels for you, as it is about deciding what support might be helpful going forward.