Dr Sarah Quinley (she/her), Psychotherapist, Relationship Counsellor & Founder of True Voice Counselling
I grew up in the Bay Area of California, surrounded by many cultures, languages, and ways of living. That early exposure shaped how I understand people and relationships, and sparked a lasting curiosity about how we come to know ourselves and one another.
That curiosity led me to train as a psychotherapist in Scotland at the University of Edinburgh. I now live and work in Spain with my intercultural family, supporting people who are navigating transitions—whether that’s living between cultures, shifting identities, changing relationships, or a growing sense that something no longer fits.
As a queer, neurodivergent immigrant, I’m especially attentive to how identity, difference, and belonging shape our inner worlds, often in ways that aren’t visible. These experiences have deepened my respect for complexity, and my belief that our histories and patterns deserve patience and care.
I’ve been in my own therapy for over a decade. That ongoing work keeps me grounded in lived experience as well as theory, and continually reminds me that change asks something real of us. Staying present with ourselves—especially when things feel uncertain, painful, or unclear—takes courage, and it’s something I hold with respect in my work with others.
The name True Voice Counselling comes from my doctoral research into the voice as a tool for healing. Through that work, I became interested in how voice can help us access and explore our inner world. In therapy, I use voice as a metaphor for authenticity: learning to listen closely to yourself, speak honestly, and move forward in ways that feel aligned.
Over time, I’ve come to see that finding your true voice is closely connected to feeling at home within yourself. Living between cultures has taught me that home isn’t only a place—it’s something that can be built internally. I see therapy as a space to cultivate that inner sense of home: a place where you can reflect, make sense of what’s happening, and be met with care as you move toward a life that feels more grounded, connected, and true to who you are.
«Hay un hogar al que solo se puede acceder a través del portal de nuestra vulnerabilidad».
"There is a home that can only be accessed through the portal of our vulnerability."
- Toko-pa Turner
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I have experience working with a wide range of issues which I have listed here.
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My approach to therapy is pluralistic, meaning I draw from various schools of thought on growth and healing. These include person-centered therapy, experiential therapy, psychodynamic therapy, Systems Theory therapy, Cognitive Analytic Therapy, Transactional Analysis, Internal Family Systems Therapy, and Emotion-Focused Therapy. This approach allows me to combine the most suitable ideas and tools tailored specifically to your needs. Learn more here.
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Certificate in Introduction to Cognitive Analytic Therapy (2022): Sussex Mindfulness Centre, Online Training
Certificate in Transactional Analysis 101 (2021): Physis Scotland, Online Training
Certificate in Couples Counselling (2020): Relationship Scotland, Edinburgh, Scotland
Doctor of Counselling and Psychotherapy (2019): The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland
PG Diploma in Counselling and Psychotherapy (2016): The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland
Counselling Children and Young People Introductory course (2015): The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland
Liberal Studies Teacher Preparation BA (2014): San Jose State University, San Jose, USA
Associate Degree of Arts (AA) (emphasis in social sciences) 2011, San Jose City College, San Jose, USA
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I am registered with The British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP 377377), meaning that I have been approved for gaining appropriate training and experience. My work is deeply grounded in the ethics of care, respect, safety, and confidentiality, which is embedded within the code of ethics and conduct of the BACP. My practice is also insured and regularly supervised per the BACP requirements, so you can be confident about the help I provide.
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I place the relationship at the centre of the work. Therapy isn’t something I do to you; it’s something I enter into with you. Attunement, responsiveness, and genuine contact matter more than technique.
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I approach each person as shaped by layered histories, identities, and ways of adapting. I don’t rush toward simple explanations or labels. Complexity is something I welcome and work with carefully.
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My stance is collaborative and non-hierarchical. I don’t position myself as the expert with all the answers, but as a thoughtful guide alongside you. Meaning and direction are shaped together.
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I don’t offer quick fixes. I value taking time to understand what’s happening beneath the surface and supporting change that unfolds at a human pace—grounded, integrated, and lasting.
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I work with respect for lived experience, culture, identity, race, neurodivergence, queerness, and migration. Difference isn’t something to work around; it’s something to work with and learn from.
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I aim to offer steadiness, care, and containment, while also trusting your capacity for insight, responsibility, and growth. Support doesn’t mean directing or rescuing.
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I value what is felt as much as what is thought. Emotional experience, nervous system awareness, and non-verbal knowing are important sources of meaning in the work.