My Services
Individual Counselling, Couples Counselling, Discernment Counselling and Supervision in Ashford, Kent and Online
Individual Therapy & Personal Support
Counselling for Adults, Teenagers, and Children (11+)
I believe that each of us has the inner strength to grow, heal, and lead a deeply fulfilling life. I have a wealth of experience working across a wide age range—including children (aged 11 and over), adolescents, and adults—helping people gently navigate life's most challenging hurdles.
My approach focuses on building a safe, trusting relationship where you feel fully seen, heard, and accepted for who you are. Together, we will create a space of mutual understanding, helping you get to know yourself better and feel comfortable sharing your thoughts and vulnerable emotions, whether we meet in my calming face-to-face room or via a secure online space.
I have a great deal of experience supporting people through bereavement, grief, and the profound loss of role and identity that we so often face as we move through different life stages. No matter where you are on your journey, we will walk side by side, exploring your experiences at a pace that feels completely natural and safe for you.
Furthermore, if you are struggling with work stress, professional pressure, or the threat of workplace exhaustion, please know that you do not have to carry that weight in isolation.
Work-related stress frequently triggers physical and emotional symptoms, such as chronic headaches, migraines, poor-quality sleep, and panic attacks. Together, we will gently look at the professional challenges you are facing, explore healthy coping strategies, and develop practical tools to protect your overall well-being.
For clients navigating professional pressures who do not require personal therapy, these concerns can also be effectively addressed and supported within my non-clinical supervision sessions, providing a dedicated, structured, and supportive space to process workplace challenges.
I offer a warm, friendly and professional service with flexible appointments in a safe and comfortable space with on-drive parking.
Couples Counselling & Relationship Support
You don’t have to navigate relationship challenges alone
Relationship challenges can cause untold unhappiness and lead to deep feelings of loneliness and isolation. Whether you are stuck in repetitive arguments, facing a painful loss of connection, or navigating a major life change, my goal is to work collaboratively with you and your partner to find a meaningful way forward.
While couple work often uses a more structured path than individual therapy, we will always work in full alignment with what feels completely right for your unique circumstances.
A specialised approach to relationship growth
I received my specialist couples training in Greenwich, focusing in particular on the Developmental Model of Couple Counselling pioneered by Drs Ellyn Bader and Peter Pearson.
Grounded in this compassionate framework, I help couples safely navigate the transition from the early romantic stage into successful differentiation. This simply means learning how to express your own individuality and needs while simultaneously supporting and strengthening your relationship.
I am also highly experienced in helping couples adapt together to major health changes and life-altering transitions, ensuring both partners feel deeply heard, accepted, and supported as your relationship evolves.
Common relationship struggles I work with
Many couples experience times of distance or conflict. I offer a safe, non-judgemental space to explore difficulties such as:
- Communication Obstacles: Misunderstandings, constant tension, and differences in viewpoints or communication styles.
- Emotional Stress: Overwhelming feelings of resentment, anger, and anxiety within the dynamic.
- Broken Trust: Navigating the pain of infidelity, a lack of trust, or a gradual loss of connection.
- Intimacy Concerns: Exploring a lack of physical intimacy and sexual discontent safely.
- External Pressures: Difficulties arising with extended family members, parenting styles, or heavy professional and workload roles.
How therapy can support your relationship
By working together, we will focus on building a safe, trusting bond where real growth can happen. Through our sessions, you can expect to:
- Build Communication Skills: Learn effective ways to speak and listen that create curiosity and mutual support rather than conflict.
- Value Your Differences: Find healthy ways to resolve conflicts while genuinely respecting your unique individualities.
- Rediscover Your Strengths: Recognise and rebuild the unique strengths and love that already exist within your relationship.
- Transform Difficulties into Growth: Gain deep insight into your specific difficulties and learn how to use them as opportunities to grow closer together.
Remember what it means to be the listener. You don't react to what you're hearing.
Just keep breathing, postpone your own agenda, and concentrate on your partner.
- Dr. John Gottman
Discernment Counselling
Clarity and confidence when you are unsure of your future together
Taking the step to reach out can feel like a massive moment, especially if you or your partner are currently facing deep uncertainty about your future together.
While traditional couples therapy assumes that both people are already fully committed to working on the relationship, Discernment Counselling recognises that frequently one partner is "leaning out" of the relationship while the other partner is "leaning in."
Please be assured that each perspective is completely honoured and respected here.
The goal of our discernment sessions
The fundamental path of this work is not to solve your relationship problems right away, but rather to find out if they can potentially be solved. I will fully respect your reasons for considering separation, while gently trying to open up the possibility of working on the marriage.
To ensure both of you feel completely secure and heard, our time is structured uniquely:
- Time Together: We will spend time with you both in the room together to understand your shared dynamics.
- Individual Conversations: We will hold private, face-to-face or online individual conversations with each partner during the session.
- A Deeper Understanding: Together, we will highlight the importance of each partner seeing his or her own contributions to both the problems and the potential solutions.
Gaining clarity for your next steps
This form of counselling is highly successful when people gain complete clarity and confidence in their decision, whatever that decision may be.
From a deeper, more compassionate understanding of your relationship and its core patterns, you will be supported to choose one of three paths:
Path One: Continue as the relationship stands;
Path Two: Move towards separation or divorce, with deeper peace and understanding.
Path Three: Commit to working on the relationship for a dedicated period of couples therapy (usually six months), after which you can decide whether to continue or separate.
For couples interested in my confidential services…
Please get in touch with me if you would like to discuss your needs or download a copy of each of my Terms and Conditions and Questionnaire. Once you and your partner have completed and returned these to me, they will help me understand a little more about your situation. I will then contact you to arrange an appointment to meet with you.
Are you going through a difficult situation in life that is causing you distress and need help? Are you looking to enhance your relationships? Do you need to talk to someone who will listen to you without judgment?
Clinical & Non-Clinical Supervision
I offer both clinical and non-clinical supervision for qualified practitioners, trainees, and professionals working in demanding roles. My supervisory work deeply mirrors my approach to therapy: building an open, collaborative, and trusting alliance is invaluable to our work together.
My Diploma in Professional Supervision is built upon the Seven-Eyed Supervision Model of Hawkins & Shohet and incorporates Michael Carroll’s ‘Tasks of Supervision’ Model. Together, we can also choose to incorporate creativity into our way of working.
I view supervision as working openly and collaboratively, empowering you as a supervisee to feel safe and emotionally contained within a trusting relationship. Our alliance will permit the growth of personal development and self-care whilst influencing wider relationships.
Contact Sally Cloke Counselling
Book a Free Consultation
Taking the first step toward support can feel like a significant decision. Please call me on 07743 401350 or email me using the contact form below to arrange a free 15-minute phone chat or an initial face-to-face meeting. We can use this introductory space to explore the specific reasons you are considering counselling or supervision, answer any questions you may have about how it works, determine whether it could be helpful for your circumstances, and decide if I am the right practitioner to support you.
For more information on my services please view my terms and conditions and privacy policy.
Emergency and Crisis Support
If you are feeling suicidal, in crisis, or struggling with your feelings right now, please know that you do not have to carry this alone. Please reach out to one of the trusted, free, confidential resources below for immediate support:
- Call NHS 111: Free to call from any phone, open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for urgent mental health support and advice.
- Contact Your GP: Request an emergency appointment with your local surgery.
- The Samaritans: Call 116 123 for a free, confidential 24-hour telephone service available for whatever you are going through. You can also email jo@samaritans.org (response time may take a couple of days).
- Shout Crisis Text Line: Text SHOUT to 85258 for free, confidential 24/7 support via text message.
- CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably): Call 0800 58 58 58 (Available from 5:00 pm to midnight every day) or access their webchat service at The Calm Zone.
- SOS Silence of Suicide: Call their Freephone Helpline on 0808 115 1505 (Open Monday–Friday, 8:00 pm to midnight; Saturday & Sunday, 4:00 pm to midnight). You can also email contact@silenceofsuicidesos.org.uk.
- Childline: For children and young people under 19. Call 0800 1111. The call is completely free and the number will not show up on your phone bill.
- Go to any hospital A&E (Accident & Emergency) department and tell the staff you are in crisis.
- Call 999 to request an emergency ambulance.
- Walk into any local Police Station and ask for help.
Please consider talking to a trusted family member or a close friend about what is happening for you. Opening up to someone you know can provide an extra layer of comfort and help keep you safe.