Sarah Bennett, NCPS

Sarah Bennett is a counsellor who brings over a decade of experience to her private practice in Nantwich. Her counselling career began in Sydney in 2009, where she trained as a telephone counsellor for Lifeline, and on returning to England she completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Counselling and a University Certificate in Counselling from South Cheshire College, validated by Manchester Metropolitan University.

She is an accredited member of the National Counselling Society and holds the credential NCPS, reflecting her commitment to recognised professional standards. Sarah has continued her professional development through workshops and training, including a Postgraduate Certificate in Integrating Hypnotherapy with Psychotherapy (Level 7) from the Manchester Institute of Psychotherapy.

Early placement work at Reaseheath College gave her experience supporting young people, and she has worked as a school counsellor at Brine Leas High School assisting students with coursework stress, bullying and family issues. She has also volunteered with The Dove Service, a bereavement charity in Stoke-on-Trent, supporting people affected by loss and life-changing illness.

In private practice she sees adults and older adolescents for a wide range of concerns including anxiety management, depression, grief, relationship and family difficulties, eating and sleeping issues, addiction, trauma, and self-esteem. Her practice is underpinned by a person-centred approach while integrating techniques from CBT, mindfulness, relaxation and hypnotherapy where these may help. She offers sessions face to face and by telephone or video call, and aims to present therapeutic options as collaborative suggestions rather than prescriptive homework. Outside work she values time with family and friends and enjoys life with her dog Leo.

Therapeutic approaches and online care

Sarah Bennett works from a client-centred foundation, which means she prioritises the individual's experience and works to create a supportive, non-judgemental space where the client’s goals guide the work. This approach helps people explore feelings, clarify priorities and build confidence to make changes.

She also uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) techniques when helpful - a focused, problem-solving method that looks at how thoughts, feelings and behaviours interact. CBT can be effective for anxiety, low mood and patterns of negative thinking by teaching practical strategies to manage symptoms.

When appropriate, Sarah may offer hypnotherapy integrated with psychotherapy, drawing on her postgraduate training. This approach can support relaxation, focus and the exploration of habitual responses, and may be used alongside other therapeutic tools for issues like stress and anxiety.

Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. Sarah will discuss options, consider a client’s needs and preferences, and adapt methods over time so the work fits the person rather than the other way around.

Online sessions are available by video call, phone, live chat or text messaging, offering flexibility for people with busy schedules or mobility limits. These formats make it easier to maintain continuity of care and attend sessions from home, work or elsewhere while working with a registered professional.