Sophie Burrows MSc
Hi! I’m Sophie (she/her) and I’m a counsellor and psychotherapist from Derbyshire, UK.
From a professional perspective I use an integrative approach, meaning that I use a few different methods of psychotherapy to tailor the most appropriate therapy for the client.
For the most part, my work with clients is goal-directed and semi-structured. I feel that it is important for us to understand what you need from therapy and how we’re going to get there. However, this doesn’t mean there is any pressure or strict focus, just that we can recognise if we’re off topic and if the tangent feels useful.
I’m a fairly laid back and friendly person, in my personal life and with my clients. In therapy it’s important that you feel safe and relaxed, so remembering that your therapist is an imperfect human, just like you, can be really helpful.
Speaking of imperfections, it’s important to me that my clients know that I have ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) and that means I that sometimes I can be scatty and disorganised in my life and in my head. I don’t see this as a drawback, more like an alternative way of working. You may find that we can follow tangents in therapy, going down the rabbit hole if you will, but that often leads us to an important place, even if we didn’t plan on going there.
Due to my personal experience with ADHD, I decided to specialise in this area and work with neurodivergent (ASD, ADHD, dyslexia, among others) clients to support them with organisation, time management, impulsivity and social issues. Of course, I continue to work with non-neurodivergent clients, and many of my clients suffer with depression, anxiety, self-esteem issues, relationship difficulties etc so we also work through the roots of these to improve their mood and boost their self-worth.
You might notice in sessions with me that I am quite chatty and like to have a laugh and, though this might not seem like a typical part of therapy, sometimes it’s important. We often use humour as a coping mechanism, and I’m not about to take that away in therapy.
In my personal life I wrestle two sausage dogs (miniature dachshunds), who know exactly how to get what they want, along with a tortoise and a crested gecko. I love to read, bake and be lazy, avoiding the outdoors wherever possible. I can struggle with sensory overload, so the cold/wind/rain/etc are not my cup of tea and similarly I’d much rather relax in the comfort of a blanket than go to a party, sightsee in the city, or workout in a noisy gym.
I hope you feel that you know me a little better now, but I’d be more than happy to chat with you for a free initial consultation if you’d like to get to know me before starting your therapy journey.
Mindfulness – a counsellor’s perspective
Mindfulness explained There are many explanations of mindfulness out there. But most agree on the following: Mindfulness is an increasing awareness of the current
ADHD and Me – My experience of ADHD
Why I am speaking up about ADHD Fairly recently I was diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (or ADHD as it is more commonly known).
Neurodivergence explained
What it means to be neurodivergent To be neurodivergent means consistently processing the world in a different way than “normal” (or neurotypical). It is not