If you’re feeling low, overwhelmed, or unsure how to move forward, you don’t have to face it alone. I’m Sara Matthews, an HCPC-registered psychologist and the founder of ThriveMind Therapy. I specialise in supporting people healing from difficult life experiences, anxiety, depression, and OCD — helping you not only understand what you’re going through, but make real, lasting changes that improve daily life.

I know how heavy life can feel when your mind won’t give you peace. That's why my approach is compassionate, structured and practical. Together, we’ll work on easing distress, breaking unhelpful patterns, and building tools you can actually use — so therapy doesn’t just stay in the room, but creates genuine shifts in how you think, feel, and cope. Together, we’ll create a clear plan for your healing, tailored to your needs, at a pace that feels right for you.

With years of NHS experience in complex mental health settings, I bring clinical expertise alongside genuine care. My goal is simple: to help you feel supported, regain balance, and rebuild confidence — so you can move from just getting by, to truly thriving.

At ThriveMind Therapy, I use an integrated approach — which means I don’t rely on a single method or a “one-size-fits-all” model. Instead, I draw from a range of proven therapies including, (but not limited to) Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) (to help shift unhelpful thought patterns), Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT) (to build acceptance and mindfully align with your values), Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) (to calm harsh self-criticism), Polyvagal, (to regulate the nervous system), and always trauma informed and attachment-focused (to heal, process, strengthen relationships and self-worth).

What makes this powerful is not just combining models — it’s weaving them together in a way that fits you personally. For someone living with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), this might mean practical tools to reduce compulsions alongside deeper work on the anxiety that drives them. For someone facing the legacy of their trauma, it could involve grounding strategies for safety, 'parts work' to reduce inner conflict, and gentle processing at the right pace. For low mood or depression, it might mean unpicking stuck cycles, reconnecting with values, and finding energy and motivation again.

This integrated way of working allows me to meet you where you are, adapt as your needs change, and ensure therapy is both meaningful and effective — so you leave each session not only feeling understood, but with real tools and tangible progress to carry into your everyday life.