Sarah Mac Farlane

A practical, compassionate counsellor for life stressors

BACP United Kingdom

Experience: 9 years in practice
Focus areas: Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse, Self esteem
Approaches: Gottman Method, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Languages: English

About Sarah

Sarah Mac Farlane is a BACP-registered counsellor who offers calm, practical support for people feeling overwhelmed by life. She focuses on easing stress, anxiety and low mood, and helps with trauma, grief, self-esteem and difficult life changes.

Background and approach

Sarah aims to make sessions simple and honest so people can start feeling steadier sooner. She uses a blend of approaches to match each person's needs.

That can include cognitive behavioural techniques to challenge unhelpful thoughts and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to build values-based action. Attachment-informed work helps with relationship patterns and repeated hurts.

Sarah has around nine years of experience working in the United Kingdom. She describes therapy as a collaborative process and listens for strengths to build on, rather than starting from what is wrong.

Sessions are practical and paced to what each person can manage. Her background includes work with people facing anger, parenting strain, eating concerns, ADHD and compassion fatigue, as well as issues such as chronic illness, cancer and body image.

She also supports LGBT people and those coping with bereavement and loss. Appointments can take place online by video, phone, live chat or text-based messaging, and Sarah can work with people internationally in English.

The aim is to help people develop clearer coping skills and steadier emotional responses so daily life becomes easier to handle.

How Sarah’s Approaches Work Online

Sarah uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to help people notice difficult thoughts and build actions that match their values. ACT is useful for anxiety, low mood and problems that make life feel stuck.

She also draws on Attachment-Based Therapy to look at recurring relationship patterns and early experiences that affect current connections. This approach can help people understand why they react in certain ways and learn different, healthier responses.

Choosing the right approach is part of the work. Sarah will discuss options and try techniques together to see what fits each person’s needs and goals. The plan can change as therapy progresses so it stays practical and useful.

Online sessions are offered by video calls, phone, live chat or text-based messaging to suit different lifestyles. Video is good for face-to-face conversation, phone works well when bandwidth is limited, live chat or text can fit quick check-ins or people who prefer not to be on camera. These options make it easier to fit therapy around work, caregiving or travel and help maintain continuity between sessions.

Frequently asked questions

What kinds of concerns does Sarah address?

She helps with stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, depression, low self-esteem and grief. Additional areas include ADHD, anger, eating issues, parenting strain and long-term health challenges.

What is her therapeutic style like?

Sessions are collaborative and down-to-earth. Sarah blends practical techniques with reflective work so people can make steady changes.

How much clinical experience does she have?

She has around nine years of professional experience working with people on a wide range of emotional and life issues.

What credentials and location are listed?

She is registered with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and practices in the United Kingdom.

Which languages and international options are supported?

Sessions are offered in English and she is able to work with international clients.

In what formats are sessions offered?

Therapy is available by video calls, phone sessions, live chat or text-based messaging to suit different schedules and needs.

How are costs and billing handled?

Fees vary by location and therapist availability. Sessions are provided through a cancellable subscription model.

How do I begin therapy with her?

Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions according to therapist availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, Anxiety Trauma and abuse Self esteem Depression Coping with life changes

Also works with

LGBTRelationship issuesGriefEating disordersParenting issuesAnger managementCompassion fatigue ADHD

Additional focus areas

Abandonment Aging and geriatric issuesAntisocial personalityAttachment issuesAutism and Asperger SyndromeAvoidant personalityBlended family issues Body imageCancerCaregiver issues and stress Chronic pain, illness, and disabilityCo-morbidityCodependency Commitment issues Communication problems Control issuesCoping with natural or human-caused disasterDependent personalityDissociationDivorce and separation Domestic violenceDrug and alcohol addictionEating and food-related issuesEmptinessFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsFatherhood issues Fertility issues Forgiveness Guilt and shameHIV / AIDSHoardingHospice and end-of-life counselling Immigration issues Impulsivity InfidelityIntellectual disabilityIsolation / loneliness Jealousy Life purpose Men's issues Midlife crisis Veteran and Armed Forces Issues Money and financial issues Mood disorders Multicultural concernsNarcissismObsessions, compulsions, and OCD Panic disorder and panic attacksParanoiaPersonality disordersPhobiasPolyamory / non-monogamous relationshipsPostpartum depression Post-traumatic stress Pregnancy and childbirth Prejudice and discriminationProcess addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-harmSelf-love Sexual assault and abuseSexual dysfunctionSexualitySmoking / vaping cessationSocial anxiety and phobiaSomatizationTraumatic brain injuryTrichotillomaniaVisually impairedWomen's issues Workplace issues Young adult issues

Therapeutic approaches

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Attachment-Based TherapyClient-Centred TherapyCognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)Existential TherapyGottman MethodHypnotherapyJungian TherapyMindfulness TherapyMotivational InterviewingNarrative TherapySolution-Focused TherapySomatic TherapyTrauma-Focused TherapyInternal Family Systems

Experience

9+ years

Registered with

BACP

Languages

English