Sally Shanahan MBACP, Postgrad Dip Couns, BA (Hons) Ed 07984 466809
Counselling for children, teenagers & adults.
In-person in Northamptonshire & Newport Pagnell, or online.
Welcome to Patchwork Pathways Therapy
Piecing the past together, creating safe pathways to healing and growth
I’m Sally, a qualified therapist with specialist postgraduate training in counselling children and young people. I provide a calm and compassionate space where children and teenagers can explore challenges such as anxiety, low self-esteem, depression, or the impact of difficult experiences.
My approach is creative and flexible — from play and imaginative methods to talking therapy — always shaped around each young person’s needs. Whether you are a parent looking for support for your child, or a young person seeking help for yourself, therapy here offers understanding, healing, and the chance to grow with confidence.
If you have questions or would like to book an appointment, please get in touch to arrange a free 20-minute online or phone call.
About me
I hold a Level 7 Postgraduate Diploma in Counselling Children and Young People from the University of Northampton. I’m currently completing the final stage of my Masters degree, which continues to deepen my specialist knowledge in supporting children, young people, and families. Before training as a therapist, I worked as a teacher in schools, where I saw how deeply early life experiences can impact a child’s development and wellbeing. This led me to retrain and focus on emotional and mental health support.
Piecing the past together,creating safe paths to heal & grow
How I work
Area's of specialism: Childhood Trauma
Area's of specialism: Childhood Trauma
My training is integrative, which means I draw on different approaches depending on what best supports each young person. These include:
• Person-centred therapy (building a trusting, supportive relationship)
• Psychodynamic therapy (understanding how past experiences shape the present)
• CBT techniques (practical tools to manage difficult thoughts and feelings)
• Systemic therapy (exploring family and relationship patterns)
• Play and creative approaches — including sand tray, drawing, role play, and imaginative play .
With children, creative therapy often helps them express what they cannot yet put into words. With teens and adults, I offer a calm, non-judgmental space to explore emotions, relationships, and challenges at a pace that feels safe.
Area's of specialism: Childhood Trauma
Area's of specialism: Childhood Trauma
Area's of specialism: Childhood Trauma
Much of my work focuses on childhood trauma and its impact, including:
• Emotional, physical, or sexual abuse
• Neglect
• Bullying
• Witnessing domestic violence
• Loss or separation from a parent or caregiver
• Growing up with parental mental illness or substance misuse
• Medical trauma and early diagnosis.
These experiences can leave lasting emotional wounds and affect self-worth, relationships, and even physical health in adulthood.
How it can impact
Why Patchwork Pathways?
Why Patchwork Pathways?
Emotional & Psychological Impact:
• Chronic feelings of “not being good enough”
• Anxiety, depression, or complex PTSD
• Difficulty with trust, boundaries, or relationships
• People-pleasing or perfectionist behaviours
Physical Health & Chronic Illness:
There is a growing body of research linking early trauma (also known as Adverse Childhood Experiences, or ACEs) to chronic illnesses in adulthood, including:
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Fibromyalgia
• Chronic fatigue syndrome / ME
• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
• Migraines
• Lupus
Food, Body Image & Control:
• Emotional eating and weight struggles
• Restrictive eating as a form of self-control
• Body image issues linked to self-worth
Why Patchwork Pathways?
Why Patchwork Pathways?
Why Patchwork Pathways?
I chose the name Patchwork Pathways because I believe healing is a unique journey—like a patchwork quilt, made up of many different experiences, both painful and beautiful. Therapy is a place to bring those pieces together, to understand how the past has shaped the present, and to begin creating new pathways forward.
Sessions take place in a calm, welcoming space on the outskirts of Northampton, close to the village of Blisworth, as well as in a town-centre location in Newport Pagnell. Both spaces are designed to feel safe, private, and supportive.
At Patchwork Pathways Therapy, I walk alongside you with compassion and understanding. Whether you are seeking support for your child, your teenager, or yourself, therapy offers the opportunity to heal, grow, and reclaim a sense of self-worth.
If you feel ready to take the next step, I am here to take it with you.
Sessions are £60 for a therapeutic hour (50 minutes).