Dr Sara Lakin

Dr Sara Lakin is a highly skilled Clinical Psychologist, registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). Sara completed an undergraduate Psychology degree with first class honours, before undertaking her doctoral training and qualifying as a Clinical Psychologist from University of East London. Sara also has a postgraduate certificate in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for children and young people from the Anna Freud Centre and is a trained EMDR practitioner for adults and children.

Sara has experience working across a wide range of NHS settings including child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS), specialist trauma clinics, parental mental health and family cancer services. Alongside her private clinic Sara currently works as a principal clinical psychologist in an NHS service supporting children and their families who have experienced sexual abuse, and also as a highly specialised clinical psychologist and joint team lead in a service for parents of children under 5 who are experiencing difficulties with their own mental health.

Sara’s clinical work is grounded in theory and informed by the latest evidence-base, in adherence with the NICE guidelines. She takes a formulation driven approach, coming to a shared understanding of difficulties with her clients before collaboratively developing a treatment plan. Sara takes a creative approach to therapy, particularly in work with children and families. Sara believes the therapeutic relationships is key in facilitating a safe place for change to take place, which she creates through taking a warm, compassionate and non-judgemental approach. Sara is interested in hearing about her client’s strengths and skills and building on these together during the therapy process. Sara is an integrative therapist, which means she can work in a way that suits your needs. She primarily uses narrative therapy, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), systemic therapy, EMDR, and compassion focused approaches.

She is experienced in working with a range of difficulties including (but not limited to):

• Anxiety Disorders
• Behaviours that Challenge
• Depression
• Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
• Health Anxiety
• Life transitions (including school transitions)
• Low Self-Esteem
• Loss and Bereavement
• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
• Panic Disorder
• Parental Illness
• Parenting difficulties
• Perfectionism
• Perinatal Trauma
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
• Relationship Difficulties
• Self-Harm
• Sexual Abuse and Trauma
• Specific Phobias
• Stress and burnout