Sarah Hayes RMN & Interpersonal Psychotherapist

Interpersonal Psychotherapy for Adolescents and Adults in Merseyside

Making sense of relationships, loss, and life changes - together.

Support for adults and adolescents experiencing depression, grief, and relational difficulties - in-person and online.

• In-person sessions in Merseyside

• Online therapy across the UK

• NHS & Private experience

Welcome

Are you feeling low, overwhelmed, or stuck in patterns within your relationships? Perhaps you’re adjusting to a significant life change, coping with a loss or finding that things feel harder than they used to - without quite knowing why.

You may be finding that conflict has become a regular feature in your relationships-whether with a partner, within your family, or between parent and child-leaving you feeling stuck or unsure how to move forward.

When relationships feel strained or life changes arrive unexpectedly, it can leave you feeling isolated and unsure where to turn. Reaching out for therapy can feel daunting, but you don’t have to face things alone.

I work with adults and adolescents using Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT). Together, we will explore what is happening in your life now, how this connects to how you’re feeling, and what could help you move forward with greater clarity and steadiness.

I offer a warm, supportive space where we can think together about your experience and begin to make sense of them at your own pace.

How I can help

I work using Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT), a structured, evidence-based approach that focuses on the connection between mood and relationships.

I can support you with:

• Depression and low mood

Feeling persistently low, flat, or disconnected can be deeply unsettling, understanding what has contributed to how you’re feeling and finding ways to reconnect with life and relationships.

• Grief and Loss

Grief is a natural response to loss, but some losses can feel particular complex or overwhelming. This may include:

• Bereavement

• Changes in family structure

• The loss of important relationships, roles, or hopes for the future.

• Life transitions

Significant changes have a powerful impact on our emotional well being and relationships. This may include:

• Separation or divorce

• Retirement or changes in work roles

• Living with a long term health condition

• Becoming a parent or changes within family roles

For adolescents, transition might include:

• Changes within the family

• Moving school

• Academic or social pressure

• Interpersonal difficulties

Ongoing relationship difficulties can be a major source of distress. This might involve:

• Friendship breakdowns

• Bullying or peer conflict

• Difficulties with family members

• Repeated patterns in relationships that feel hard to change. 

• Conflict and Relationship difficulties

Conflict can be painful, exhausting, and isolating-particularly when it involves people who matter most to us. You may find yourself stuck in repeated arguments, misunderstandings, or patterns of communication that leave both sides feeling unheard or hurt. This may include:

• Ongoing conflict between partners or within families

• Parent - child relationship difficulties

• Difficulties expressing needs, boundaries or feelings safely.

  About Me

  About Me

  I’m Sarah, an Advanced Interpersonal Psychotherapist (IPT), IPT-UK Accredited Supervisor, and a Registered Mental Health Nurse (RMN) based in Merseyside. I work with adults who feel stuck in patterns of relationship difficulty, loss, or emotional overwhelm.

  I have over 20 years’ experience working within NHS mental health services. I have worked across both adult and children’s mental health services, including CAMHS.

  I genuinely love the work I do. Supporting people through difficult periods in their lives, and seeing them begin to feel more like themselves again, is one of the most meaningful parts of my role. It doesn’t feel like work - it is something I care deeply about and I find it a real privilege to walk alongside people as they make sense of their experiences and move towards living fuller, more connected lives.

  I know that coming forward for therapy can feel hard. Many people arrive feeling unsure, vulnerable, or uncertain about where to begin. My aim is to offer a calm, supportive and non-judgmental space where you feel heard, understood, and able to talk openly at your own pace.

  My approach is collaborative and reflective. Using Interpersonal Psychotherapy, I work with you to explore relationship changes, losses, and life transitions that may be affecting your emotional well being, and to support you in finding ways forward that feel manageable, meaningful, and rooted in your everyday life.

  I also offer clinical supervision for therapists, providing a thoughtful and containing space to develop confidence and skill in delivering IPT.

  I offer both online and face to face appointments based in Eccleston/Prescot area of Merseyside.

Why IPT?

Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) is an evidence-based, time-limited therapy that focuses on the connection between mood and relationships. It is particularly helpful when emotional difficulties are linked to relationship problems, experience of loss, or major life changes.

IPT is recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) as an effective treatment for depression, reflecting a strong research base and consistently positive outcomes.

Within NHS services, access to IPT is often limited and waiting times can be lengthy due to high demand for evidence-based therapies such as this. Many people seek private IPT in order to access support sooner, or to work at a pace that feels right for them.

IPT focuses on what is happening in your life now and is a collaborative and practical approach. Therapy supports you to make sense of current difficulties and to develop healthier ways of relating, with the aim of improving mood and emotional well being.

Who This Is For?

Interpersonal Psychotherapy can be helpful if you are experiencing:

• Relationship conflict or isolation

• Bereavement or loss

• Depression linked to life changes

• Difficulty adjusting to new roles.

Sessions are offered in Merseyside and Online across the UK.

Get In Touch

Taking the first step towards therapy can feel daunting,but it is also a courageous move. I invite you to get in touch to arrange a free consultation, where we can talk about what your experiencing and whether working together feels like the right fit.