About Me

Hi, I’m Sass Boucher, a person-centred counsellor, psychotherapist, and lecturer on the MSc Counselling and Psychotherapy course at Keele University. I believe deeply in the power of authentic, regardful relationships—connections that are essential for personal growth, healing, and understanding who we are.

I understand that reaching out to a counsellor can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re not at your best. If you’re considering making changes or gaining a deeper awareness of yourself, it’s important to take your time, research, and find the right fit for you. The relationship between counsellor and client is key—evidence shows it’s this therapeutic connection that supports change, more so than the specific approach or modality.

I am wholeheartedly committed to the person-centred approach, which places you, the client, at the heart of the process. Together, we work within Carl Rogers’ core conditions of empathy, authenticity, and unconditional positive regard to create a safe, supportive, and non-judgemental space.

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My Background and Experience

I am a qualified counsellor and psychotherapist working in private practice, offering online sessions across the UK. I am accredited by the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). With a career spanning over 25 years across the voluntary, private, and public sectors, I have always been driven by a desire to support others.

In 2013, I returned to university to pursue my passion for counselling, completing an MSc in Counselling Psychology at Keele with a focus on person-centred theory. Since then, I’ve worked in a variety of settings, including a hospice, a domestic violence charity, a large private practice, and my own practice.

My experience includes working with clients in areas such as anxiety, stress, depression, bereavement, self-esteem, personal and work relationships, trauma, and issues related to domestic and sexual abuse. I also work as an affiliate counsellor for The Listening Centre, supporting employees through their Employee Assistance Programme (EAP). Additionally, I accept referrals from health insurance providers and organisations that prioritise emotional well-being.

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My Research and Professional Focus

My MSc research, 'Looking Through a Lens of Terribleness', explored the experiences of professionals working with trauma and distress, particularly those supporting clients who have lived with domestic abuse. This research led to the development of Professional Trauma and Fatigue, an umbrella term encompassing the challenges faced by those working with trauma, including burnout, vicarious trauma, and compassion fatigue.

To address these challenges, I developed The Five Pillars of Protection: awareness, trauma-informed practice, supervision, self-care, and peer support. This framework helps professionals stay well while also celebrating the rewards of their work, such as compassion satisfaction, vicarious resilience, and post-traumatic growth. My research continues to inform both my counselling practice and my work with students and professionals.

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Beyond Counselling

I am a Co-Founder and Director of SelfCare Psychology Ltd, an organisation dedicated to supporting helping professionals, such as counsellors, social workers, and other human service practitioners. Our mission is to create cultural shifts that encourage individuals to care for themselves and each other, recognising that workplace pressures also require systemic change. Self-care alone cannot fully protect practitioners from the risks inherent in their roles.

I also write about counselling, self-care, and workplace well-being. My writing has been featured in publications such as the BACP Workplace Journal, Social Work News, and The Counsellors Café. I co-authored the resource 50 Acts of Professional Self-Care for Social Work, contributed to the book SHARE: A New Model for Social Work, and wrote a chapter for Lisa Cherry’s Conversations that Make a Difference for Children and Young People: Relationship-Focused Practice from the Frontline.

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Working With Me

Whether in the therapy room, classroom, or training space, my focus is on creating environments where individuals feel genuinely seen and heard. I believe in the power of regardful, empathic, and authentic relationships as a foundation for growth and self-discovery.

If you’d like to explore working together, please get in touch using the form below or email me at sass@sassboucher.com. I’d be happy to answer your questions and support you in finding the right path forward.

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Take care,
Sass

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