Sharon Zucker

Biography

Originally hailing from America, Sharon first began her career as an educator.

She took her original degree in English Education at Southern Connecticut State University & went on to complete a masters degree in Special Education.

Whilst working as a teacher, she gained specialist experience in supporting children & young people with mental health issues, learning difficulties & autism.

Sharon progressed in the field & rose to become a consulting special educator. In this role she advised her fellow teachers & helped to create & implement innovative educational programs aimed at reaching those who were struggling.

Outside of work Sharon has been an enthusiastic traveller, spending time exploring the cultures of Israel, New Zealand, & North & Central America.

In her twenties, she won a much sought after place on an anthropological expedition & spent six weeks exploring Costa Rica. This led her to take numerous other exploratory trips to Central America.

Although she had always had an interest in mental health, her first nudge towards retraining came in 2004, when she emigrated to the UK to be with her partner & shortly thereafter they started a family. The challenges she faced during these enormous life changes, led Sharon to start reflecting more deeply on her inner world & sense of identity.

Sharon continued her work in education & in 2007, whilst working as a specialist studies skills tutor, she embarked on the PGDip in Psychology at Northumbria University.

This sparked her interest & her fascination with the psyche alongside her own positive experiences of personal therapy led Sharon to ultimately embark on the diploma in psychotherapeutic counselling at the Northern Guild for psychotherapy.

After qualifying as a psychotherapeutic counsellor, Sharon volunteered in an NHS primary care service & at Tyneside Women’s Health, offering both open ended & time limited integrative therapy to clients experiencing an array of emotional health issues such as anxiety, depression, bereavement & trauma.

Sharon joined The Clearing in early 2017 & since that time she has both developed her skill set & deepened her practice, having successfully supported clients to overcome a wide range of complex issues. She has also continued with her studies, ultimately achieving her Diploma in Psychotherapy with the Northern Guild in 2020 & accreditation with the UKCP in 2021.

Alongside her counselling work & ongoing studies, Sharon is an active writer. She’s written a number of short plays that have been performed in Newcastle theatres & enjoys utilising her creativity in therapy through therapeutic storytelling, guided imagery & metaphor.

More about Sharon

Sharon is a UKCP accredited psychotherapist.

She works integratively, drawing from her training in Transactional Analysis, gestalt strategies, creative techniques (such as guided imagery, sand tray, metaphor & therapeutic stories), & mindfulness.

Sharon uses TA to create a framework within which you can come to understand yourself & the people around you better, develop self-compassion & make better, more authentic choices going forward.

Her extensive personal & professional experiences mean Sharon is incredibly knowledgeable about a wide range of areas from bereavement, LD & autism through to chronic illnesses, neurological problems & immigration. You can therefore rest assured that with Sharon you will always be met with a deep & empathic understanding.

Sharon says…

“We are all born worthy but, at times, we need to be reminded. Life’s challenges can come at us quickly without any warning & at times like this we might question our ability to cope.

We may be very critical of ourselves, often echoing voices from our past. Our feelings may overwhelm or daunt us & may even leave us feeling isolated, as if no one else can understand. You don’t have to be alone in this. The therapeutic process can support you, even if it is just to help you to breathe through the moment.

It reminds you of your inner strengths & helps you to be present, encouraging your voice to be heard. Together we’ll create a safe space for you to explore & understand your thoughts & your feelings. I will be journeying alongside you, listening carefully to your unique story.

For many of us, expressing our thoughts, feelings & needs can be awkward & uncomfortable & this may be the first time that it’s ever been encouraged. This exploration can lead us to a greater awareness, even an awakening, that leads to us reframing the world that we live in. Such new found understandings can cause us to challenge parts of our lives that were created for us instead of by us.

Therapy empowers us to be authentic. Through this unconditional acceptance, we come to realise that we are OK & that our feelings are OK. It teaches us how to handle our feelings & to manage difficult life situations. As your therapist, I would be privileged to travel alongside you in this process & celebrate with you while you grow.”

Sharon & the rest of the team look forward to welcoming you to The Clearing.

Book online today

The key to successful therapy is a good relationship between you & your counsellor.

If Sharon sounds like the right therapist for you, you can book in your half price, initial consultation with her today.

We offer appointments Monday to Friday between 7am & 9pm & on Saturdays between 9am & 8pm. Arranging your first session with us is quick & easy.

Click on the Book Now button to view the sessions we have available across the next week. Search for a convenient appointment with the therapist of your choice & book in within minutes. You’ll then be sent a confirmation email with all of the information that you’ll need.

We look forward to seeing you soon.