Sharon is an experienced and qualified BACP Accredited Counsellor/Psychotherapist and has carried out over 4,000 hours of counselling.

During her career, she has worked with individuals, couples, families and groups and has delivered clinical supervision to professionals and trainees.

As well as leading our free wellbeing service, she has a private practice and offers CPCAB counselling courses, approved by BACP.  Sharon has worked in the education sector for over 20 years and has led many of our own personal development programmes – so you can be confident that you’re in experienced hands.

As an Accredited member of BACP (British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy), Sharon abides by their code of ethics.  As part of this, the quality of her work is monitored by ongoing, regular supervision.

When you’re worried, anxious or down, it can feel like the hardest time to reach out and ask for help.

There are many reasons why people decide to go to counselling. Perhaps you’ve been affected by loss, shock or trauma; you’re struggling to connect with others, or you have a sense that something just isn’t right. Whatever the reason, talking regularly in a confidential setting with a qualified counsellor might be of value to you.

We believe that everyone is unique, and their expectations of counselling are all different. You are your own expert, and no one person has the same needs. In our sessions, Sharon uses a blended approach to tailor the therapy to your individual experiences.

Counselling is all about understanding your story, to accept your story, to be able to respect your story. Once this has been achieved, clients often learn to recognise their triggers and develop coping strategies, so they no longer feel overwhelmed or consumed by their feelings or emotions.

The Counsellors are not able to make a diagnosis.

The counsellors are not able to prescribe medication.

Unfortunately, you cannot bring someone into the counselling room with you as it is a confidential service.

If someone has transported you to a face-to-face appointment and wishes to wait, we offer free parking on-site.

As we are not an emergency or crisis service, your counsellor will not be available to you between sessions. If you need an emergency service, such as an ambulance, please dial 999.

If you need urgent medical advice, you can call the NHS on 111 or talk to Samaritans anytime on 116 123.

We offer counselling both online and face-to-face, depending on how you feel most comfortable.

Our face-to-face counselling is currently only available at our consultation room in Ipswich.

Yes. If you require more than one session a week, Counsellors may be able to accommodate this, with a review as things start to improve for you. The frequency of appointments will be assessed on a case-by-case basis and are dependent on counsellor availability.

Counsellors are in sessions with clients during the day and are unable to speak without an appointment. However, our advisors would be happy to give you more information about the service via phone, text or email.

If you think counselling is right for you, the first session provides an opportunity to ask any questions, find out more about the counselling process, and discover if you feel a connection with your counsellor.

No. You are free to contact us yourself if you wish to try counselling.

Please book an initial assessment here, or contact wellbeing@inspiresuffolk.org.uk or call/text 07720 087487.

Once we’ve heard from you, we’ll complete an initial assessment to find out more about what you hope to achieve from your sessions. Anyone aged between 10-16 must have a parent/guardian present for the initial assessment. After this, we will book a consultation appointment for you with our counsellor. We aim to offer you an available appointment slot within 7 weeks of your first call, text or email.

Only you can decide whether you wish to try counselling. For many people, talking to someone confidentially who is not a friend or family member can make all the difference.

Counselling provides a regular time for you to explore your feelings and talk about any problems you’re experiencing. A counsellor can help you develop better ways of coping, allowing you to move forward and get the most out of life.

By choosing a Counsellor registered with a professional body for example BACP or UKCP you can be reassured that they have met the rigorous standards of training and experience they require.

All of our counsellors follow the BACP ethical framework and undergo regular supervision. Being registered or accredited with BACP/UKCP means an individual must have achieved a substantial level of training and experience.

When you chose a counsellor who meets professional standards, you can have confidence that your therapist has studied, meets recognised standards, and participates in ongoing professional development.

To start your counselling you can email us, phone us, or text us to book your initial assessment at a day and time that suits you.

Each session will usually last 30 minutes.

Typically, we offer weekly counselling sessions within 6-8 weeks of your initial assessment. We aim to keep our wait time to a minimum so you can start receiving support as soon as possible.

Our counselling is free for up to 12 sessions. In exceptional circumstances, this can either be extended, or may be referred on to other organisations for further support.

Once you have agreed to a mutually convenient slot with your Counsellor, you will be allocated the same day and time on an ongoing basis. In the case of an emergency, where you’re unable to attend your slot, your Counsellor may be able to provide you with an alternative appointment, subject to availability.

The first session you have with your Counsellor will be a consultation appointment. This allows you to identify your issues as you see them, and for your Counsellor to start to gain an idea of what your needs are.

Unfortunately, having just one session is unlikely to have any lasting benefit. However, you are welcome to use this session to decide whether your counsellor is right for you.

You can talk about anything that is on your mind.

Counselling is a safe space where you can bring up anything you’d like to discuss.

We always welcome comments about the service we offer. If you do have a complaint you would like to discuss, we recommend telling your counsellor first to see if they are able to resolve any issues.  If the complaint is about your counsellor, please see our complaints procedure here for more information on how to submit a complaint.

Regardless of how long you have been attending counselling, it is helpful to let your counsellor know that you are thinking of bringing your sessions to an end. This gives your counsellor the chance to explore this with you and will allow you to work towards a planned ending together.

Our wellbeing service has worked with young people facing all kinds of challenges, including:
stress, anxiety, depression, addictions, relationship issues, anger, abuse, low self-esteem, bereavement, bullying, terminal illness, child-related issues, domestic violence, low self-confidence, OCD, post-traumatic stress disorder, post-natal depression, attachment disorders, gender dysphoria, phobias, acquired brain injury and many more.

We provide specialist Sports Teaching to support both school provision and Continuing Personal Development (CPD) of staff teaching Curriculum PE. Our qualified and multi-skilled team have also supported schools in the development and delivery of breakfast, lunchtime and after-school clubs where children are encouraged to become more active in a positive, safe and inclusive environment. We actively look to support every school we work with, and pride ourselves on our flexibility and going the extra mile to help our partners achieve their goals.

Our work with schools has two main objectives. Firstly and most importantly, it gives the opportunity for our team of experienced sports coaches to provide high-quality PE both through curriculum-based lessons and out of school activities that make active participation in sport engaging, challenging and enjoyable for children of all abilities.

Secondly, it provides a positive environment for these same members of staff to support the development of up and coming sports coaches. Our young people have a passion for pursuing careers in sport as both teachers and coaches. Here at Inspire, we pride ourselves on combining the right qualifications and experiences to give them those crucial first steps.

Our PE development package includes the planning, delivery and assessment of School PE for Early Years, KS1 and KS2, working in line with the National Curriculum standards. A dedicated member of staff will take an active role in supporting the development of your school’s PE provision by promising to:

• Deliver high-quality PE lessons that are enjoyable, engaging and cater for all ages, abilities and additional needs.
• Deliver a provision that motivates and inspires children to create positive sporting and active habits.
• Support short or long-term planning of PE during Autumn, Spring and Summer terms.
• Session planning and pupil assessment to meet expectation of both the School and National Curriculum.
• Build a strong working relationship with school staff, children and parents where appropriate.
• Work collaboratively with teachers to incorporate cross-curricular links with contemporary themes and topics.

We offer a range of before, during and after school clubs which can form part of your PE package. These are activities which you can use your PE and sport premium for, as outlined in the guidelines at www.gov.uk.

• Breakfast Clubs: Schools are continuing to see the positive impact breakfast clubs have on children’s behaviour, concentration and application in the classroom. Inspire offer support to schools through focused activities that encourage teamwork, problem-solving, communication and continuous academic development.
• Lunch Time Clubs: Lunchtime clubs offer your pupils the opportunity to take part in focused activities. Children will learn sport specific skills and rules, and the life skills sport teaches us (fair play, communication, teamwork and leadership).
• After School: Once the school day is over, our After-School Clubs offer children an opportunity to enjoy a variety of sports under the guidance of our sports coaching team. Our team deliver activities that are well structured, inclusive and fun for all children.
• Lunch Time Play Leaders: Our Play Leaders scheme allows our staff to support children from KS2 to come up with lots of different activities to deliver to children across the school lunch period. The children are encouraged to understand the importance of being organised, planning their sessions, knowing the games and getting equipment sorted before the start of activities. The guidance from our staff helps children to utilise time on the playground in a positive way.

Our lead coaches and teaching staff pride themselves on their continuous professional development, as expert sports coaches and teaching professionals. Our team of staff are determined to become key and proud members of your team, and to contribute to its development and progression. All lead coaches and teaching staff have the following qualifications and experiences:

• Minimum Level 2 sports specific (i.e. FA Level 2 in coaching football)
• Minimum of 12 months practical experience leading curriculum based lessons
• Enhanced DBS
• Relevant Safeguarding, Prevent and Emergency First Aid training

Our Disability and Inclusion programme aims to provide high quality sports to all those with Special Education Needs and Disabilities.  We provide a range of inclusive programmes and sessions tailored to support those with varying needs and disabilities, to engage them in an active lifestyle. The following is a list of programmes that we run to support this:

• Special PE Programme – working with local schools and SEN units
• DS Active – Down’s syndrome weekly football sessions
• Youth Ability Counts – all-inclusive sport sessions for under 16 years

We also work closely with schools to support and advise on how to have a fully inclusive approach to sport. Our staff regularly participate in up to date training so that teaching and learning is tailored to the specific behaviours commonly seen in those with ASD and other conditions common in the school environment.

Our role in supporting those with physical and mental barriers in Suffolk is becoming increasingly more important. Our goal is to decrease the inactivity figures by providing high quality sessions, developing innovative ways of engaging those with Special Needs in sport and improving wellbeing.

Providing staff with professional development and mentoring is an important part of ensuring that teachers have the confidence and knowledge to deliver the PE curriculum to a high standard. It is proven that high quality delivery of PE and Sports in schools supports the development of student’s academic, social and personal achievement. Our CPD and mentoring programme supports your teachers to deliver PE and Sport more effectively in an interactive and engaging approach.

Our CPD programmes delivered by our highly qualified and experienced staff include:

• Incorporating physical activity into day to day teaching
• Promoting healthy and active lifestyles
• Delivering safe and inclusive lessons
• Technical and tactical support in a range of sports
• Introducing new sports, dance and other activities that encourage more pupils to take up sport and physical activities
• Increasing confidence, knowledge and skills of all staff in teaching PE & sport.

*As recommended by Sport & PE Premium­

If you are interested in enrolling in one of our programmes or know a young person that may benefit from this 12-week experience, please contact nextsteps@inspiresuffolk.org.uk

You’ll be referred to a Team Leader who will be happy to help all young people complete our sign-up form. Alternatively, please call or text us on 0330 055 0033 and we will be happy to answer any questions you might have.

All of our programmes run over the course of 12 weeks and young people will be required to dedicate time between Monday – Friday (excluding public holidays).

This course will be a blended learning approach with a mixture of distance and classroom based exercises.

All young people that complete the programme will receive a Prince’s Trust Certificate in Employment, Teamwork and Community Skills. This certificate can be completed at entry level, level 1 or level 2.

In the last 12 months, 79% of our young people have moved into a sustainable outcome finding employment, enrolling onto college courses, starting an apprenticeship or going into voluntary work. For more information on individual successes go to our ‘who we help’ page.

Inspire has delivered this nationally recognised qualification to over 60 teams of young people, that’s over 900 young people! Our delivery has been recognised by The Prince’s Trust as ‘Outstanding’ and in the last 24 months, we have seen over 75% of our young people move into further education, employment or training on completion.

No, Team programme will not affect your Universal Credit, PIP or ESA.