Sarah Burns - Counsellor and Creative Arts Therapist

I offer a safe, confidential space of warmth, compassion, empathy and understanding. I do this using a combination of talking and creative therapies.

I am an integrative therapist - I combine different ways of working depending on an individual’s requirements. Together we can tailor-make a a way to work together to suit you.  

I am a qualified, experienced and insured counsellor, group worker and Dramatherapist. 

I am also trained in Internal Family Systems Therapy Level 1, 2 and 3. Please see the link to find out more.

I originally trained as an English teacher in the early 1990's and worked for several years in Bristol schools, eventually gravitating to work with young people with social, emotional and behavioural difficulties, with young mothers in education and with Gypsies and Travellers, enabling them to tell their story.

I became passionate about working with the 'whole' person and undertook counselling and group work training in 2001, at first working in mental health and the addictions field before I became a school counsellor.  I realised that words do not always get to the heart of how we feel and can sometimes get in the way, so I sought further training to be a registered Dramatherapist, enabling me to access ways of working non-verbally using the arts, imagination and creativity as a way of aiding self-expression, spontaneity and healing.

I have since worked in various organisations and have a wide depth of experience.  In the last four and a half years I have worked for an organisation specialising in trauma and abuse counselling.

My clinical experience includes work with organisations in the following fields:

·         Post Natal Depression (Mothers for Mothers)

.         Alcohol and substance use (ACAD: Advice & Counselling on Alcohol & Drugs)

·         Loss and bereavement (Cruse Bereavement Care)

·         Mental health (Bristol Mind and Franklin hospital, Exeter)

·         Trauma and abuse (Southmead Project)

·         Body image (Off the Record)

·         Counselling and Dramatherapy in six Bristol schools and collages

·         Young carers (Carers Support. The Vassall Centre)