Therapeutic Approach

​Along the way, we will enquire together into what your life experience has been so far; how it has shaped you; what stories you tell yourself and have been told by the dominant culture; how you have learned to build relationships and what beliefs and assumptions you carry into your connections with others. Through this exploration, you will have a deeper awareness and acceptance of yourself and your life and greater understanding of the threads of the story you are weaving and want to weave. We will feel into your embodied experience to include your bodysoul wisdom and reflect on your dreams, both waking and sleeping so as to bring unconscious material in contact with your consciousness.

I am a member of the organising committee at The Relational School, a broad based community of therapists who are dedicated to broadening their understanding of the dynamics of the therapeutic relationship. Research shows that the nature of the therapeutic relationship is crucial to a productive
psychotherapy. I use the therapeutic relationship in order to become conscious of interpersonal dynamics between me and my clients to better understand your relational style and how this affects your life.

Background

I started my professional life in the corporate world.  I have over 25 years experience as a lawyer, business leader and coach and have coached leaders for 20 years. I began training as an integrative counsellor 10 years ago, first at Regent’s University and then at The Minster Centre, one of the leading integrative therapy training providers in the UK. I worked with a range of clients in a placement at Highbury Counselling Centre and continued to volunteer there until recently as well as building my private practice over the last 7 years.
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I’ve come to realise, after many years of working in highly pressurised environments, balancing family and work commitments, that I’ve always been trying to “get somewhere” and “prove myself” often missing the full experience of the present moment, and also more interested in what others wanted from me, rather than what I wanted for myself.
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My own therapy has been a space where I have discovered what I really think, feel and want, and I have found great peace in learning how to quieten my mind to allow myself to tune into the wisdom of my body, heart and soul as well.  This allows me to make better decisions, to build more nourishing relationships, and to live a more fulfilled, purposeful and creative life.  I no longer have to get somewhere, I just have to be where I am and live from there.
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It is this that I hope to offer to my clients.  A space to connect with yourself, in company, and to recover and reclaim the stories that are yours.

Ongoing Development

I continue to learn and grow as I interweave the various strands of my practice. I remain in therapy and have regular supervision as therapist and coach, both individually and in groups. I regularly attend lectures and study groups on specific issues relating to my client work. I am also part of an anti-racist study group and committed to understanding and working against the social and political dynamics of racism in the therapy room and in my life.

The Conscious Feminine

Building on my integrative training, I am influenced by Jungian ideas, and particularly Jungian analyst, Marion Woodman who taught “conscious femininity” and what it means to bring conscious feminine energy to our world through working with the body, dreams and archetypes.

In my practice, I especially love working with women across generations as they begin to question and explore their own relationship with the feminine and are curious about their inner life, which may look very different to what has been prescribed for them by others.

Uncovering their stories and finding their voice can be particularly challenging for women who, from a young age, find themselves in a culture which denigrates, objectifies and sexualises them and disrespects the feminine. I work to help clients recognise that where they may perceive a personal
failing, there is likely to be an engrained cultural projection, so that they may begin to reclaim their story, desire, longing and power and love and appreciation for themselves.

Coaching, coaching supervision and groupwork

In addition to my therapy practice, I continue to coach senior leaders globally, consult to teams and supervise a number of experienced coaches. Most of my work is one to one. However, as Martin Buber reminds us “all learning takes place in relationship”.  I know that some of my greatest learning
comes from the small, connected communities that I’m a part of.  I like to create spaces to connect people to one another, so that their experiences can be heard, seen, chewed over, digested and felt.

To this end, I run workshops and lead circles, especially focussed on creating spaces where women can explore the particular challenges they face, using storytelling and embodied approaches.

If you would like to find out more about coaching, coaching supervision or my workshops, please go
to: sandrahilton.co.uk

Qualifications

• I have a Diploma in Integrative Counselling from The Minster Centre (a UKCP registered centre for integrative psychotherapy), accredited by Middlesex University.
• I trained for 5 years with CoachU in the U.S., one of the first global coach training providers, graduating with a Diploma in 2008.
• I have a post graduate Diploma in Coaching Supervision (Distinction) accredited by Leeds Beckett University (2014).
• Qualified solicitor (CPE & LPC at College of Law 1998/99).
• BA Hons, Russian, University of Wales (Bangor).

Fees 
My fees are flexible depending on how we work together.

Contact 
You can find out more about me and my work on my website: sandrahilton.co.uk or please get in touch by phone or by email. I am always happy to have an informal chat if you would like to find out more about working with me.