Focusing on the embodied experience to bring mind and body together for holistic healing

Counselling

As an accredited member of the BACP (British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy), I offer both short and long term counselling to adults (age 16+).

I became Dr. Sharon Cox when I was awarded my PhD in Counselling Studies from Leeds University in November 2017.

My therapy room is in North Shields, North Tyneside.

Since I began working as a counsellor in 2004, I have worked with a wide range of clients experiencing varying presenting issues.

I have a special interest in working with eating disorders, the embodied experience, body image issues and difficulties around relationships with food and eating.

My initial training was as a person centred therapist, although I now integrate other approaches as appropriate to each client.

Embodying Change

'Embodying change' is my way of thinking about the ways in which psychotherapeutic theories, yoga philosophies and practices can be integrated to provide a more embodied and holistic understanding of individuals.

Within my doctorate (PhD), I explored eating disorders which led to me becoming increasingly interested in the role of the body in an individual's identity, self-expression and experiencing of themselves within the world.

Western culture, and some of the talking therapies can neglect, or minimise, the role of the body and the embodied experience of clients and therapists. My research and personal yoga practice helped me begin to appreciate the importance of bringing mind and body together to ensure a more holistic and embodied type of change.

Yoga Therapy

Throughout the course of my PhD research I came to understand how yoga therapy, and practices and philosophy compliment many psychotherapeutic theories and practices.

I came to appreciate that talking therapies are not always the most effective approach to managing emotional and psychological issues. Sometimes, a more embodied perspective can be beneficial in enabling people to access, release and manage feelings, memories and emotions trapped within the body and / or nervous system.

Science is now illustrating how effective yoga can be for helping people manage emotions, regulate the nervous system and generally promote psychological well-being.

As well as offering one-to-one yoga therapy sessions, I run yoga classes and workshops for a range of psychological conditions including: eating disorders, stress, anxiety, depression, body image, PTSD, menopause, insomnia, and general emotional well-being and resilience.

As a therapist, I aim to offer a warm, safe, confidential relationship within which clients can work through any concerns which they may be experiencing.

Counselling could help you if you are currently experiencing any kind of dissatisfaction, distress or confusion in any area of your life. Counselling can enable you to gain a deeper understanding of yourself and your present situation, and from this, empower you to make more effective decisions and choices. Within our sessions I will not offer specific advice or tell you what to do; instead, I will facilitate your own exploration of your situation and feelings, and help you find the most appropriate solution for yourself.

People are often surprised at how powerful counselling can be and that 'just talking' about things in a contained space and facilitative relationship can be so helpful.

Counselling or Yoga Therapy?

Counselling is a talking therapy in which you will be facilitated to express and explore your experiences, feelings and emotions in order to gain a deeper understanding of what is going on for you, and to discover the things you might need to change.

I might provide some psychoeducation if I feel it is appropriate, and some of this may come from my yoga therapy perspective, but this will always come from an information perspective, which will then enable us to think about how you can integrate the learning into your own understanding or experience.

Yoga therapy is more directive and takes a holistic approach. I will begin with an assessment looking at your whole current life experience and life-style to formulate a treatment plan. The treatment plan will be based around yoga theory, practices and philosophy.

We may engage in some breathing practices and physical asana practices during the sessions. As I am also a counsellor, we are able to engage in some talking therapy if it seems appropriate to help you explore your experiences in the practices.

I will typically give you ‘homework’ to complete between sessions, which may be a physical or breathing practice or a written exercise based around yoga philosophy or ethical practice.

Therapy as an adventure...

I like to think of counselling and yoga therapy as an adventure, an exploration of a person's inner self. When you take those first steps into therapy, there is no way of knowing where the process will take you. When I'm in my therapy room, I like to think of me and my clients being part of an adventure, exploring clients' thoughts, beliefs, experiences and feelings, uncovering relevant memories and connections; none of which we can know when we begin. Sometimes the things we uncover don't make immediate sense, but if we can be brave enough to trust that process, everything unfolds and is uncovered in its own good time... and everything falls into place in the ways in which it's meant to, and when it's ready to...

My Qualifications

PhD in Counselling Studies from Leeds University 2017
Yoga Therapy Diploma from The Minded Institute 2022
BACP Accredited since 2009
Counselling Diploma from Newcastle University 2004
Counselling Supervision Certificate 2006
EMDR Standard Training with EMDR Masterclass 2018
200 hour Yoga Teacher Training from Yoga Therapies in Newcastle 2017
NLP Practitioner Certificate from Communicating Excellence 2011
Practitioner Skills for Eating Disorders from the National Centre for Eating Disorders 2006

I attend regular CPD trainings, typically varying from 1 to 5 days, and over the last few years these have included:

Counselling for Depression
Couples Therapy for Depression
Yoga Therapy for Child and Adolescent Mental Health
Yoga Therapy for Perinatal Mental Health
Yoga in Healthcare Alliance Yoga4Health 10 week course
Neurobiology of Eating Disorders
A Psychoanalytic Understanding of Eating Disorders
Nutrition and Mental Health
Menopause Awareness
Trauma Informed Yoga and Yoga Therapy
Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy Essentials course
Yoga Therapy for Grief, End of Life Care and Dying
Yoga for Anxiety
Eat, Breathe Thrive; Yoga for Eating Disorders
Yoga Nidra

My Location

My therapy room is based in a private property with free on-street parking in North Shields. Unfortunately, it does not have a waiting room and so I ask that clients arrive on time for appointments.

This also means that I do not have anywhere for supporters to sit and wait for clients; there is however, a small cafe at the top of the street, or a number of cafes around an 8 - 10 minute walk away in North Shields town centre.

Please note: for people who might have cat allergies, I have cats and although they will not be in the therapy room when we are working together, they will be in the property.

Fees & Contact Information

Please feel free to contact me via telephone, e-mail or the contact form.

Mobile: 07751 722 744

Landline: 0191 452 6567

E-mail: sharon@therapywithsharon.co.uk

Practicalities:

A counselling session lasts for approximately 50 minutes and I charge £45 per session.

A Yoga Therapy session lasts for 75 minutes and I charge £70.

Sessions can be paid for on the day (cash, cheque or bank transfer), or we can make block bookings.

I also offer clinical supervision to counsellors and other professionals at a cost of £50 per hour.

For accessibility purposes: the therapy room is on the ground floor; however, there is one step up from the street onto my property and then a further step into the front door.

Therapy with Sharon

Counselling, Supervision & Yoga Therapy IN NORTH SHIELDS