Dr Sara Carr
My Experience
Supporting individuals to become more present in their lives and better able to engage in what matters to them, are at the centre of my practice. I have worked in the NHS since 2010 and have experience working with people across the lifespan with a range of complex mental health difficulties including depression, anxiety, panic, trauma, grief and loss, and adjustment to long-term health conditions (such as diabetes and chronic pain).
I have most recently been working in community and inpatient mental health services for Older Adults in the NHS, including specialising in issues of bereavement, adjusting to retirement, and supporting individuals and their families with managing changes in cognition, including living with mild cognitive impairment and dementia.
In my private work, I also very much enjoy working with adolescents and adults in developing a more effective work-life balance in line with their values, managing exam stress, and navigating transitions from educational settings into the workplace.
My Values
My approach to therapy is warm, collaborative and compassionate. I see my role as helping you to develop a deeper awareness and understanding about the present challenges you are facing, with a view to finding alternative ways forward. I aim to help you to develop the confidence to take forward the skills and strategies we discuss in therapy and to apply these meaningfully in your daily life, so that you feel less distressed, more in control, and moving in a direction that matters to you.
The Models I Work With
My practice is integrative, drawing on a range of evidence-based models including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Comprehend, Cope & Connect (CCC) and Mindfulness. My work is also informed by Attachment Theory and Systemic Therapy. I enjoy working with families, partners and carers, if required, and consider the wider system in formulating difficulties. I look forward to discussing these approaches with you during our initial assessment session to ensure that I am a good fit for your needs.
Clinic Information
I currently hold a clinic in Southampton and offer face to face and virtual appointments on Monday & Thursday evenings and Saturday & Sunday mornings. I work with people aged 15 years upwards.
Training and Qualifications
• Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (D. Clin. Psychol.) –University of Southampton, 2017
• PhD Cognitive Psychology – University of Southampton, 2012
• MSc Research methods in Psychology – University of Southampton, 2007
• BSc (Hons) Psychology – University of Southampton, 2006
• EMDR Parts 1 & 2 – EMDR Academy, May & July 2021
• Comprehend, Cope & Connect with Isabel Clarke – Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust – June 2019
• Dialectical Behaviour Therapy – Southern Health, NHS Foundation Trust September 2018
• Clinical Supervisor Workshops – University of Southampton, March & June 2018
• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) – Russ Harris Online Course, June 2016
Professional Registration
• Registered Practitioner Psychologist, Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC), PYL34562