About Us

Compassionate Psychology provides a safe space for clients to unravel and process the complexities and inevitable suffering of life. We build on your unique strengths and help you meet your potential as a person. We believe you are the expert of your own life and will walk with you for a part of your journey, as you reconnect with a life that is meaningful and consistent with your personal values. 

Kia ora, my name is Sarah and I am a registered psychologist based in Stratford, Taranaki. I qualified as an Educational Psychologist in 2014 and have been working in private practice serving the rural community of Taranaki since 2014. 

I work with a wide variety of clients from the age of 18 through to the senior years of life. I have extensive experience working with clients who have experienced high levels of suffering in their lives. I currently specialize in supporting clients who have experienced life changing injuries and permanent disability, including Traumatic Brain Injury, Post-traumatic Stress Disorder following accidents, treatment injuries and accidents resulting in a significant reduction in functioning.

I have had the pleasure of working with many clients struggling with depression, anxiety and adjustment issues. It is my pleasure to support clients to navigate moments of suffering and reconnect with what truly matters to them in their lives. 

Compassionate Psychology draws primarily on the evidence-based treatment models of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT). The primary focus in sessions is on increasing psychological flexibility and alleviating suffering during difficult life experiences and transitions. 

Much of our psychological suffering can come from a place of 'internal struggle' and ACT works with dropping this struggle and living a life that is consistent with our values and what is important to us. CFT takes this one step further and shifts our thinking from one of self as attacker (self-criticism) to supporting and nurturing ourselves when we hurt (self-compassion). Self compassion is a fiercely brave thing to engage in, when we are faced with the voice of inner judgment and has the potential to create transformational change in the way we see the world and relate to ourselves.

Compassionate Psychology also draws on Viktor Frankl's work, a concentration camp survivor, who based his research on finding meaning in human suffering. To quote Viktor Frankl "Between stimulus and response there is a space .... in that space is our power to choose. In our response lies our growth and freedom"