Sarah Quinley (she/her)

BACP Registered Member, Doctor of Counselling and Psychotherapy, and Certified Couples Counsellor

I am a doctor and therapist, but I see myself more as a 'fellow traveller', a concept from psychiatrist Ivan D. Yalom. This idea reflects my approach to therapy, which focuses on forming genuine connections and meeting you where you are, person to person. In this way, therapy is not something I do to you; I am here to be empathetically present with you in your unique experience.

As your collaborative guide, I trust your inherent wisdom and am compassionately curious about what life has been like for you. Together, we can cultivate a home within you where you can feel a sense of belonging. This inner sanctuary can help you navigate life with more confidence and clarity.

A Bit of My Story

I grew up in the Bay Area of California, one of the most diverse regions in the United States. My understanding of what 'home' means expanded when I moved to Scotland in 2014, where I spent nearly six years training in counselling and psychotherapy at the University of Edinburgh. During this time, I worked in various clinical settings and private practice, collaborating with people from all over the world. In 2020, I went on a new adventure by moving to Spain, where I now live with my bicultural and bilingual family. These experiences—growing up in a multicultural environment, living abroad, and working with people from diverse backgrounds—have shown me the uniqueness of each person's story.

To honour that uniqueness, I use a pluralistic and holistic approach to therapy. This means I apply various methods to meet your needs, addressing the body, mind, and emotions as interconnected aspects of your experience. With this approach, I aim to understand you fully, help you connect deeply with yourself, and find pathways toward wellness together that match your specific situation.

While I have extensive clinical training and experience, as well as ten years of personal therapy, I recognise that I don't know everything. I can guide you, but ultimately, you are the expert on your own life, and you must make your own choices. As a fellow traveller, I am always learning and seeking ways to better support you and grow as a person. This growth involves facing the unknown, learning from successes and failures, and remaining humble.

I bring my whole self to my work. As a queer, neurodivergent immigrant, I am committed to creating an inclusive environment for everyone I work with. I want you to feel welcome and valued, embracing all parts of your identity. I am also a singer-songwriter. My doctoral research, which focused on how vocal practices can promote healing, inspired me to find new ways for people to express feelings and experiences that are hard to put into words.

My journey of leaving my home to become a therapist has taught me that 'home' and belonging are as much an internal experience as an external one, if not more so. I hope our time together will help you embrace who you are, appreciate who you've been in the past, and explore who you are becoming—creating a sense of belonging within yourself, with others, and in the world around you.

“Owning our story can be hard but not nearly as difficult as spending our lives running from it. Embracing our vulnerabilities is risky but not nearly as dangerous as giving up on love and belonging and joy—the experiences that make us the most vulnerable. Only when we are brave enough to explore the darkness will we discover the infinite power of our light.”
― Brene Brown

  • 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.

  • I welcome people from all backgrounds. I have experience working with a wide range of issues which I have listed here.

  • 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.

  • As a life-long learner in my profession, I regularly attend workshops, trainings, conferences, and other CPD courses. I am also an avid reader and research themes and socio-cultural contexts to deepen my understanding and support my clients therapeutically. You may find a list of my CPD here.

  • 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

  • I curate a blog where I reflect on topics that arise from my work, share information about therapy, and feature people’s therapy experiences. Click here to visit.