About Sarah

Founder of Harrogate Sanctuary | CBT Therapist | Sober Pioneer

Why I Do This Work

I created Harrogate Sanctuary in 2010 because I knew there was a better way to support people, especially women and families, facing lifestyle and alcohol challenges. Not chaos. Not crisis. Just a quiet but persistent knowing: This isn’t working anymore.

I’ve been there myself. I know how subtle, high-functioning dependence can be, and how damaging. I also know that recovery doesn’t need to mean labels, group meetings, or public declarations. Change can be private. It can be powerful. It can be yours alone.

A Different Kind of Therapy

My work is grounded in evidence-based Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), but it goes far beyond worksheets and coping strategies.

I work with the whole person, their habits, relationships, beliefs, and lifestyle. Some clients are looking to reduce their drinking. Others want to shift family dynamics, rebuild confidence, or break patterns that no longer serve them. My programmes are discreet, tailored, and designed for long-term change, not short-term compliance.

There’s no one-size-fits-all here. You lead. I support.

Who I Work With

Most of my clients are people in midlife, partners, parents, professionals. They’re competent, capable, and deeply aware that something has slipped.

Some come alone. Others come with their partner or children through our Family Matters programme. Many are not “dependent” drinkers, they’ve simply fallen into a habit that no longer sits right. They want support, not scrutiny. Space, not shame.

They want to feel proud of how they show up, at work, at home, in their own heads.

What Changes

Clients often begin this work hoping to drink less. Many go on to become alcohol-free. But the real shift is internal: clearer thinking, better sleep, stronger boundaries, more presence. A quieter mind. A lighter way of living.

Relationships shift. Energy returns. Peace becomes the new default, not the occasional guest.

My Background

I’m a fully qualified Cognitive Behavioural Therapist with over twenty of experience working in addiction, emotional wellbeing, and behavioural change. I wrote The Sober Revolution in 2013 and have supported hundreds of people through discreet, private recovery, without stigma or spectacle.

My methods are practical, flexible, and grounded in lived experience as much as training.

Privacy Comes First

At Harrogate Sanctuary, privacy isn’t just a policy, it’s a principle. I don’t host group meetings or use social media for bookings. All programmes are one-to-one, and every conversation remains confidential. I work with a limited number of clients at any given time to ensure the highest level of focus and discretion.

Ready to Take a Step?

If you’re quietly questioning your relationship with alcohol — or simply want a calmer, clearer way of living — I invite you to explore the programmes I offer.

There is no pressure to go alcohol-free. The choice is always yours. But if you're ready for something different, I’m here.