Sara Koster-Marcon

Systemic Family & Couples Psychotherapist

Sara Koster-Marcon

Systemic Family & Couples Psychotherapist

Relationship specialist

MSc, PG Dip CYP IAPT, PG Dip, BSc .

Having worked as a Couple and Family Psychotherapist for over 15 years,  ​​I feel very grateful every day for being part of people's stories and sharing a celebration of the positive changes clients I have the honour to meet with, achieve together therapeutically.

I have had the pleasure of working across different areas of London in children and adult NHS services, supporting the recovery of individuals and families affected by severe mental health difficulties and collaborating with schools, local authorities and health care agencies in delivering mental health training to colleagues and teachers.

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In our sessions we explore and identify unhelpful patterns of relating and coping and together find the resources within you and your relationships' space to achieve satisfying and fulfilling ways of being and relating.

Life events such as moving home, a new job, a birth, a loss, a break-up, affairs, difficulties in communication, are amongst some of the common themes and events for which clients seek clarity and support.

The work is focused on the emotional and relational meaning of the difficulties clients experience, with the aim to reach a view of self and self-in-relationships that is fulfilling and connected.

The way you will start to experience positive change will vary depending on what you have experienced in your life. I will guide you to develop mind and body consciousness, understand your automatic thoughts and nervous system responses, become confident in meeting your needs from an internal healthy emotional regulation model, and co-regulating safely and effectively with the world around you.

By exploring and gaining awareness of beliefs and narratives you hold about past events, of yourself and others, we uncover how your emotions and behaviours have been influenced by these and how thanks to this awareness you will regain a secure and confident sense of agency in how to live your life with authenticity and find the right fit in your expression and commitment to your and your close others' needs and how you can remain present in your intimate and wider relationships for more connecting and satisfying encounters.

Sara is a specialist in the treatment of people affected by:

• Relationship difficulties

• Parenting difficulties

• Depression

• Anxiety

• Low self-esteem

• Stress and worry

Sara has a lot of experience in the treatment of the following problems:

• Addictions

• ADHD

• Adjustment disorder

• Anger

• ASD / Autism / Aspergers

• Attachment problems

• Bi-Polar Disorder

• Body Image Problems

• Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD)

• Chronic Fatigue Syndrome / ME

• Codependency

• Couples

• Eating Disorders

• Family Issues

• Fears of abandonment

• Gender Issues

• Generalised Anxiety (GAD)

• Health Anxiety

• Hoarding

• Insomnia

• Infidelity, affairs & betrayals

• Infertility

• LGBTQI+ Issues

• Miscarriage

• Narcissistic personality disorder

• Parenting Issues

• Pain management

• Personality Disorders

• Post Natal anxiety /depression

• Pregnancy & Birth

• Physical problems linked to MH

• Seasonal affective disorder

• Separation & Divorce

• Sexual dysfunction

• Skin/Hair picking (tricotillomania / dermatillomania)

• Sleep problems

• Social Anxiety

• Work-related stress

I also meet with parents concerned about their children’s emotional and behavioural difficulties.

I believe in providing a safe and warm space for clients who reach out to further explore their lives and stories. My approach aims at building people’s strengths and relational resources in a collaborative way.

Languages - I offer therapy sessions in English and Italian.

Testimonials about therapy with Sara

Sara Helped Us Reconnect and Strengthen Our Marriage After 15 Years

“My husband and I were struggling with our marriage and lack of communication after 15 years together. Reaching out to Sara was the best decision in order to get us back on track. She really challenged us to think about so many aspects and influences that were affecting us as individuals and also as a couple. She is a warm, friendly and open therapist who I have no hesitation in recommending.” Anonymous Couple

Sara’s Supportive Guidance Transformed My Thinking and Behaviour

“Sara has a wonderful manner with her clients. I felt very comfortable speaking to her and opening up to her (which is one of the main reasons I sought out therapy in the first place.) Sara challenged me in my ways of thinking and ensured I was thinking analytically about my behaviours and actions, in a supporting and safe way. I felt an enormous sense of achievement after our sessions and felt like Sara celebrated this.” Jodie

A Warm, Approachable Therapist Who Put Us at Ease

“Sara was an extremely approachable and knowledgable therapist. She put us both at ease and was able to use her skills and experience to guide and structure our sessions.” Anonymous

Sara Helped Me Find My Confidence and True Self

“Sara has helped me find my real self. She guided me session by session with clear goals about what I wanted to get out of our meetings. She is very warm and made me feel comfortable when talking about difficult stuff. I now feel more confident and see life from a happier place.” EM

Sara Guided Our Family Through Challenges and Improved Communication

“After our sessions I thought everyone should have family therapy! Our son started to have behavioural difficulties at school. We couldn’t see a way out. She helped us see the problem from a wider perspective and not make him the problem. We can now all see what we do to contribute to that. We found better ways of communicating our emotions and be there for one another. Sara also helped us set up meetings with the school to make sure we are all on the same page in supporting him.” AW

Marriage Saved Through Sara’s Transparency and Patience

“My wife and I were struggling in our marriage for a long time. The sessions with Sara helped us finding solutions to our issues. We now feel equipped to talk to each other and enjoy our marriage again. I was initially reluctant. Her transparency and patience helped me see the benefits of therapy.” DM

Professional qualifications

• MSc Systemic Family & Couples Psychotherapy- King’s College London & Institute of Psychiatry

• PG Dip CYP IAPT, Children and Young People, Improving Access to Psychological Therapies: PG Dip Interpersonal Psychotherapy for Depression- King’s College London, University College London & Anna Freud Centre

• BSc Psychology- Universita’ degli Studi di Padova

• Cert Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)- King’s College London, University College London & Anna Freud Centre

• Dialectical Behavioral Therapy Accreditation (DBT)- The Association for Psychological Therapies

• Family- Based Interpersonal Psychotherapy Training (FB-IPT)- Anna Freud Centre

• AMBIT Lead: Team Leader for Adolescent Mentalization Based Integrative Treatment- Anna Freud Centre

• Professional Membership with UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP)