Our Locations - West Malling (Wateringbury)
Sara O’Donnell
West Malling PracticeRelationship Counselling West Malling (Wateringbury)
Sara O’Donnell – Psychotherapeutic Counsellor & Couples Counsellor
Location: Relationship Counselling Kent, West Malling.
Accredited Member of the National Counselling Society (NCS) | Registered Member of the BACP
Quick Summary: Here’s a short introduction to Sara and how she can help — you can read more about her below.
Sara is a compassionate and experienced therapist working with both couples and individuals. Based in West Malling, she offers a supportive and non-judgemental space to explore relationship difficulties, improve communication, and break unhelpful cycles of conflict.
As an Accredited Member of the National Counselling Society (NCS) and Registered BACP Counsellor, she follows an integrative, person-centred approach, drawing on Transactional Analysis and RIGAAR techniques to tailor therapy to each couple’s unique needs. Clients describe Sara as empathetic and authentic, helping them feel heard, understood, and supported in making meaningful changes to their relationships.
👉 Book an appointment with Sara at Relationship Counselling Kent – West Malling
More From Sara
My name is Sara O’Donnell and I am a fully qualified Psychotherapeutic Counsellor. I work with both couples and individuals. I’m an accredited member of the National Counselling Society (NCS) and a registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP).
I subscribe to and work within the NCS Code of Ethics and the BACP Ethical Framework, undertake regular professional development and supervision, and hold professional indemnity insurance.
My Approach to Couple Therapy
In my experience, couples usually try to resolve issues on their own before seeking counselling. They often find themselves stuck in the same arguments, struggling to break unhelpful cycles. By the time they attend therapy, many feel upset, angry, hurt, and overwhelmed by the pattern they are in.
How Couple Counselling Can Help
Couple counselling provides a safe and confidential space to talk about what is happening in your relationship. It helps both partners feel supported and understood.
I will work with you to:
- Understand your individual needs, as well as your needs as a couple.
- Identify repeating negative patterns that are causing unhappiness.
- Explore common issues such as affairs and infidelity, communication difficulties, unmet emotional needs, parenting differences, intimacy concerns, and ongoing conflict.
A Tailored, Integrative Approach
I use an integrative, person-centred approach, which means I tailor therapy to each couple’s unique situation. I may draw on different models, including Transactional Analysis (TA) and RIGAAR.
RIGAAR focuses on what is not working in a person’s life rather than what is “wrong” with them. This may involve recognising essential needs that are not being met, or inner resources that are not being fully used, and then helping you address this.
Understanding Patterns and Emotions
I help couples explore why difficulties such as depression, anxiety, or conflict might occur, and how to manage them more effectively. Together we look at:
- Why things happen the way they do.
- The effects of your words, actions, and behaviours.
- Practical ways to cope and change unhelpful patterns of relating.
- When we develop greater self-awareness, we are better able to replace negative cycles with healthier thoughts, emotions, and behaviours.
What Clients Say
Couples often tell me that I am empathetic, authentic, and non-judgemental. They feel supported while exploring their world and valued as individuals as well as partners.
Hearing each other’s stories is an important part of the process. Supporting personal growth within the relationship also helps strengthen the couple as a whole. When both partners feel balanced and understood, there is a greater sense of peace, harmony, and wellbeing.
👉 If you would like to make an appointment with Sara O’Donnell for relationship counselling in West Malling or online, please [click here] or use the Book Now button below.
Problems we can help you with
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Jealousy and Suspicion
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Stale Relationships
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Relationship Break Up’s or Divorce
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Pre-Marital/Pre-Living Together Counselling
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The Impact of Pornography
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Dealing with the Death of a Partner
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Intimacy Problems
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Infidelity or Affairs
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'Stuck' Relationships
Reviews
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Jackie Hare My husband and I were both very nervous and unsure of what our session with Jackie would be. We were quickly reassured and had everything explained to us. Jackie is wonderful, she is the perfect mix of funny, reassuring and knowledgeable. My husband and I were in a rut, Jackie helped us to see the importance of us again. We would not hesitate to use Jackie's services again if the need arises, however, using the tools she equipped us with we both believe we won't need to. Jackie helped us talk to each other about things we would never have done so without her help. We are proud of us for going to marriage counselling but we feel very lucky to have met Jackie and used her amazing guidance.
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Jackie Hare Jackie helped us at a time when we were approaching rock bottom in our relationship. We both found her to be friendly, very approachable and reassuring. She helped us to communicate at a much deeper level and to understand the other's point of view. We would thoroughly recommend Jackie to any couple going through relationship difficulties.
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Kathy Hoggart Kathy Hoggart is amazing! With Kathy’s help my husband and I are back ‘on track’. Kathy reassured us that both of our feelings count and because of this Kathy gained our trust instantly. Kathy quickly helped us to identify what could be causing our issues and how we can use simple techniques and solutions to resolve/manage/accept them. Kathy had a very thoughtful approach throughout our sessions so that they were well planned and logical but also free flowing and flexible and without her being overbearing or dictating the pace. We had quick exercises that we willingly did in between our sessions that also really helped with our conversation during them. The support Kathy gave us to resolve our issues was superb. The tips and encouragement Kathy gave us helped us to work well together during the sessions. We were also able to work independently so that we made good progress from one session to the next. We are still using those tips now and we still remind each other when we need to of the wonderful guidance Kathy gave so that we can continue to benefit from it whenever we need to.
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Kaye Barney I have recently been helped by Kaye Barney and through my sessions I can honestly say I have felt improvement. She helped create a open and friendly platform in which we could discuss the relevant topics that helped ease my overall stress and anxiety. I would recommend Kaye very highly and I would not hesitate to book further sessions if I felt the need. I would also recommend the online sessions and found them far less stressful that adding extra travel to my day.
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Tim Gilbert
For Julie and I, counselling was an opportunity for change. We knew we were stuck and needed the time, the tools, the space, the bravery and impetus to begin the process of change. Tim gave us what we needed and at a pace we could manage. Tim joined with us in our exploration so the Julie-and- I duo became a trio with Tim; working together to resolve our issues. After each session we felt empowered to take away what we had discussed so that we may consider this in greater depth in our own time. He was never the passive wall or mirror (which would have irritated and blocked our learning) but an active participant in our striving to move forward .
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Trish Mayne
"Thank you for a really good session Trish. We were feeling really stuck for a time. You listened and helped pull us back into a place where we could think and makes things feel better. We are very glad we chose to turn to you for guidance. "
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Elaine Brown
"Thank you so much for everything you have done to help the situation with our marriage. We have learnt a lot but still have a way to go but you have helped more than we can of expected"
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Elaine Brown
"Just to say Thank you for your help, it has been invaluable and it was wonderful confiding in someone so warm and non-judgemental. The sessions were priceless in how they improved our communication and overall relationship. The tools we've learnt will be invaluable taking froward"
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Sian Jones - Relationship Help Ashford
"We found Sian to be such a huge help in our quest for improving our communication skills. Sian will teach you how to think about your behaviour and what it's linked to so you learn to understand yourself and your partner a whole lot better. This is an invaluable technique,. She is also warm & fun which really helps!:)" "We now communicate better and understand one another….invaluable & life changing.’ Many thanks again" Request an appointment
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Sian Jones - Marriage Counselling Ashford
"We went to see Sian for some marriage counselling Ashford and found that she has an amazing ability to explain back to you EXACTLY how you are feeling, both me and my husband just couldn't believe it! It was like she had experienced every single feeling we had at some point so she could really relate to it. At no point did she judge either of us such she just helped understand each other's perspectives and got us actually communicating properly again! Thank you! Request an appointment
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Debbie Fletcher - Relationship Help Bromley
"We felt having a space to talk in that was safe and supportive was really helpful. The sessions were very well managed and structured by Debbie Fletcher and there was an understanding and empathy with our situation which felt comforting. We were each allowed a decent time to talk and reflect" "Thank you Debbie – you were very kind and understanding and we really appreciated the lack of judgement and desire to help us with your reflections and ideas" Request an appointment
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Debbie Fletcher - Couple Counselling Bromley
"Relationship counselling with Debbie in Bromley was a positive experience for both of us. The initial questionnaire was a good way to get us to think deeply and try to identify issues we had and wanted to address" "Debbie seemed to understand where each of us was coming from and tried to get us to see the other person's point of view" Request an appointment
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Tara Cratchley - Couple Counselling Tonbridge
"The Irish" (ha ha ha!) cannot thank you enough for all you have done for us Tara. It's been a steep hill but we finally got there, we will never forget what you have done for us and all being well we won't be back!! :))" Request an appointment
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Allie Markantonis - Couple Counselling West Malling
"It's been good and it's been bad..................... but knowing what we know now .... we should have done it years ago! Thank you thank you thank you!" Request an appointment
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Gaye Mitchell - Couple Counsellor Rochester
"As you know Gaye I have tried very hard to get over my wife's affair. Unfortunately I haven't been unable to forgive and forget and now know I never will. Although the whole experience has hurt like hell, I couldn't have done it without you. You helped me through it by giving me time, patience and a different perspective. I know more about myself and relationships than I ever did before and I'm hoping one day I will see some good in what's happened. Hopefully this will help me in my next relationship" Request an appointment
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Tim Burns - Marriage Counselling Whitstable
"Having Tim help us talk through our problems helped us both see each others point of view and see things more clearly. Our marriage is much stronger now that it has been for years – thank you so much" Request an appointment
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Sabine Hawkins - Couple Therapy Birchington
"We knew we needed to separate but wanted to do so amicably for the sake of our two children. Sabine made this possible by offering us the support through a very difficult time" Request an appointment
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Sian Jones - Couple Therapy Ashford
"Thank you Sian for putting our marriage back on track!" Request an appointment
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Allie Markantonis - Couple Counselling Maidstone
"When my wife suggested that we should see a relationship counsellor but I thought it was a stupid idea and was very sceptical and cynical!. However, Allie made us both feel very relaxed from the outset and she never took sides in any of our conversations. Unfortunately we were not able to save our relationship but Allie helped us through the difficult process and made the separation so such much easier. I would recommend her to anyone who is having problems" Request an appointment
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Elaine Brown - Marriage Counselling Deal
"Although my partner was reluctant to go to couples therapy but Elaine put us both at ease straight away. I was surprised how he opened up and I was able to see things from his perspective for the first time. I know that he understands me more now and with Elaine help we are closer than ever" Request an appointment
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Sian Jones - Relationship Counselling Ashford
"I didn’t think there was any hope for our relationship as all we did was argue and shout at each other. We went to see Sian at relationship counselling Ashford and she was so patient and understanding and always saw things from both points of view. We are now at a stage where we can at least communicate without getting angry. We are still working on our relationship but now feel at least there is light at the end of the tunnel" Request an appointment