Sara Pantaleone, BA, MA, PgDIP, MSc

Sara Pantaleone is a Clinical Psychologist who trained in Italy. She also has additional specialist training and is an accredited Child and Adolescent Psychodynamic Psychotherapist.

Sara has worked clinically for over 12 years in the NHS, in a number of central London trusts and also in private practice with children, adolescents and adults.

Mental Health

As both a Clinical Psychologist and Child and Adolescent Psychotherapist, Sara works integratively, tailoring her therapeutic interventions to the specific needs of each client. Sara is able to draw on numerous treatment approaches, including Systemic theory, Behavioural approaches and Attachment practice. She is experienced in using a range of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) approaches as needed, from more traditional CBT to third wave CBT approaches  such as Mindfulness and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).
Sara has extensive experience of helping young people and their families to cope with complex mental health difficulties. Within a warm and containing environment she helps children and adolescents to address and work through the issues and feelings which are causing them distress.

Over the years, Sara has worked with children and young people presenting with a wide range of difficulties such as anxiety, low mood & depression, OCD, physical health difficulties, low self-esteem, social communication issues and emotion regulation difficulties, including ADHD and ASD. She is experienced working with parents of young children struggling with behaviour challenges or issues such as sleep and toileting. She also has extensive experience offering support to families going through difficult life transitions, such as changes in family circumstances, illnesses and other losses which can impact on a child’s emotional world.

Specialist Psychodynamic Psychotherapy

On occasion some children or young people may benefit from a psychodynamic psychotherapeutic approach being incorporated into their therapy, in order to help resolve more sub-conscious thoughts, feelings and behaviours. With children, this type of treatment usually includes the use of toys and play, which is often a powerful way of communicating thoughts and feelings for this younger age group. Psychotherapy can provide a safe and confidential space where these anxieties and other
difficult feelings are explored and understood, bringing some relief and allowing the young person to progress in their development and engagement in their lives. Sara also works therapeutically with parents, offering a space where complex family dynamics can be explored and understood, to result in meaningful changes in both the parent-child relationship and the presenting concerns in their child.

Accreditations

Sara is registered as a Clinical Psychologist with the Health and Care Professionals Council (HCPC). Sara is also registered as a Child, Adolescent and Family Psychotherapist with the British Psychoanalytic Council (BPC) and with the Tavistock Society of Psychotherapists (TSP).

Areas of Expertise

Children – Adolescents – Young Adults- Families

• Low mood and depression
• Anxiety and stress
• Self esteem and self-identity
• Coping with physical symptoms
• ASD and Social communication difficulties
• OCD
• Relationship and interpersonal difficulties
• Emotional regulation difficulties
• Challenging behaviour and anger problems
• Family work and parenting support
• Gender-related distress
• Discrimination and bullying
• Bereavement & loss