Counsellor · Psychotherapist · Traumatologist · Group Facilitator
Qualifications
Higher Professional Diploma in Counselling
Master’s in Understanding Domestic Violence & Sexual Abuse Postgraduate
Diploma in Traumatology & PTSD Certified Clinical Trauma Specialist
Master NLP Practitioner & Life Coach
Group Facilitator & Global Empowerment Self-Defence (ESD)
Instructor Expert Medico-Legal Training in Physical & Psychological Trauma
She has also completed specialist training in:
Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) · Schema Therapy · Solution-Focused Therapy · Trauma-Focused CBT · Written Exposure Therapy (WET) · Imagery Rescripting & Reprocessing Therapy (IRRT) · Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PET) · Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET & KIDNET) and other trauma-informed practices.
Sarah is committed to continuous professional development and has completed extensive CPD training in trauma, psychology, and therapeutic modalities to support diverse client needs.
Professional Memberships
MBACP (Member, British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy)
NCIP (National Council of Integrative Psychotherapists)
Areas of Specialization
Anxiety, Depression, Addiction & Phobias
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder & Complex Trauma
Domestic Violence & Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG)
Human Trafficking, Slavery & Forced Marriage
Sexual Abuse & Gender-Based Oppression
Cultural Identity, LGBTQI+ Issues & Political Trauma
Albanian Culture, Kanun & Customary Law
Therapeutic Approach
Sarah’s work is holistic and trauma-informed, grounded in compassion and attunement. She blends person-centred foundations with schema, trauma, and addiction models, guiding clients to observe and change deeply rooted patterns shaped by early life and through acute stress. Her approach integrates mind, body, and spirit – working creatively with the latest evidence-based interventions while fostering safety, self-understanding, and resilience.
About Sarah
Sarah is a certified trauma specialist and an expert in treating trauma, PTSD and the conditions that so often accompany them, such as anxiety, depression, nightmares and flashbacks. She is deeply committed to supporting individuals affected by trauma, displacement, domestic violence, modern-day slavery, and systemic injustice. Her work is grounded in dignity, cultural awareness, and empowerment. She creates a safe and non-judgmental space where clients feel seen, heard, and supported, helping them reconnect with their sense of self and forge a path forward. Sarah is a recognised Expert Medico-Legal Psychotraumatologist, frequently supporting survivors within asylum, trafficking, and criminal justice frameworks.
Speaking, Advocacy & Research
Sarah is a keynote speaker and panellist at national and international conferences, including the Global Mental Health & Human Trafficking Conference and National Psychiatry Conference.
Her research work includes:
The experience of Muslim men as they actualise-self as gay males and how this may inform counsellors working with this client’s group.
Guri, K. and Rees, S. (2024) Unsafe in a Safe Country: Evaluating the Support and Reintegration Challenges for Albanian Trafficking Victims within the Context of the UK’s “Safe Country” Designation. Open Journal of Social Sciences, 12, 519-556. doi: 10.4236/jss.2024.125030.
Rees, S. (2025) A Comparison of Evidence-Based Approaches: CPTSD and the Presentation of De-Personalisation and De-Realisation in Asylum Seekers Exposed to Trafficking in the UK; Do Shorter-Term Therapeutic Interventions Yield Successful Outcomes for Clients as Suggested by Policy Makers?. Open Journal of Social Sciences, 13, 136-155. doi: 10.4236/jss.2025.134009.
Rees, S. (2025) The Experiences of Albanian Women Living in London That Have Been Trafficked: Constructions of Female Identity within a Patriarchal Culture. Open Journal of Social Sciences, 13, 127-155. doi: 10.4236/jss.2025.135009.
Current Research Development (2025) – is being conducted in the area of ‘Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE)’, and ‘Implications of Moral Injury’.
Languages Spoken
English
Albanian
Availability
In person and online
Contact Information
To arrange a booking, please email info@umattercounselling.org or contact the main office on their landline.