Sasha Puente
Relationship Therapist in Bolton

Hi, I'm Sasha Puente - a qualified and compassionate counsellor dedicated to helping individuals and couples navigate life's challenges. As a registered member of the BACP, I offer a warm, ethical, and non-judgmental space where clients can feel supported and heard.

I primarily work from a psychodynamic perspective, helping clients explore how past experiences may influence present difficulties - not to assign blame, but to bring insight and clarity. I also integrate solution-focused techniques to support goal-setting and positive change. I aim to create a space where you feel truly seen, understood and accepted.

We will discuss whatever you would like to bring each session - I am here to create a safe space to help facilitate your self-exploration and to support you in gaining greater self-awareness and empowerment to change. I have experience with clients from many different cultures and backgrounds and many different presenting issues - for instance:

-bereavement

-anxiety and social anxiety

-depression

-childhood trauma, including sexual and psychological abuse

-challenging family dynamics

-finding meaning/purpose in life

-navigating life with autism or ADHD

-eating disorders

-relationship issues, intimacy/sexual issues also

-communication difficulties

And many more

Whether you're feeling overwhelmed, unsure where to start, or just curious about how counselling can help, I'm here to support you from the very start. You don't have to do this alone.

Please feel free to get in touch by email/text/phone call and we can arrange a chat to discuss how to work together and whether I'm the right fit for what you need.

I offer both in-person face-to-face sessions and online/telephone sessions. You can also opt for a combination of these if preferred, to suit your schedule.

And just to say a little about online therapy - some people are new to it, or unsure at first, which is completely understandable. But it can actually offer a lot of flexibility and comfort. You don't have to factor in travel time, parking, or waiting rooms, and that can make it easier to fit sessions into your life, especially if you have a busy schedule or any mobility or health considerations. Some clients also feel more relaxed being in their own environment, and that it helps them open up a little more freely. We'd also be using a secure, encrypted platform that you're comfortable with.

You can also find out more about how I work and what to expect from counselling at www.octaviatherapy.co.uk.

Background & Relationship Therapy Qualifications

Having trained in both psychodynamic and person-centred counselling, I can appreciate the importance of looking at the impact of past experience, empowering you as a client to find the root cause of a problem, while also focusing on the here-and-now and creating a supportive space where you can explore your emotions freely. By integrating these approaches alongside solution-focused ones, I tailor my counselling to your unique needs, helping you uncover patterns from the past while also developing the tools to navigate present challenges with greater confidence and resilience.

Providing an environment in which you can navigate any challenges you may have is of utmost importance to me, and I aim to create a safe and non-judgmental space where clients feel truly heard and understood, empowering them to explore their thoughts and emotions in a way that fosters growth and self-awareness.

My approach is grounded in extensive psychodynamic training and rich clinical experience with adults with a range of emotional challenges.

Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling
PgDip Psychology
BSc Human Sciences
Certification in Couples and Relationship Counselling

My Specialisms

Psychodynamic Counselling
Solution-Focused Therapy
Both In-Person and Online/Telephone Therapies
Individuals and Couples
Over-18s only currently

Approach to Relationship Therapy & How I Work

At Octavia Therapy, I offer a warm, safe, and non-judgemental environment where you can explore your emotions, thoughts, and life patterns at your own pace. Rooted in a psychodynamic approach, our sessions focus on how past experiences - often unconscious - shape your current thoughts, feelings, beliefs, and relationship dynamics.

I help clients uncover recurring patterns - such as relationship dynamics, self-esteem issues, persistent feelings of 'stuckness' or loneliness, anxiety and depression - and work out what underlies these, and what can be done about this going forward. Together, we identify underlying causes of emotional difficulties and work to integrate newfound insights into healthier ways of being.

Psychodynamic therapy is effective as it provides an insight into the root causes of an issue and goes beyond symptom relief, helping you to truly understand your challenges and yourself. Further to this, it has the potential to create long-lasting change, by addressing what underlies deep-seated patterns rather than just providing temporary 'sticking plaster' solutions. The approach also allows for the therapeutic relationship itself to act as a healing tool for relational issues rooted in past experience. Recognised as evidence-based, psychodynamic counselling has shown good outcomes for a range of client challenges, including relationship issues, self-esteem problems, anxiety, depression, a lack of motivation, and many more.

Solution-focused therapy can be a powerful adjunct to psychodynamic counselling because it brings a complementary, future-oriented balance to the deeper insight work of the psychodynamic process. It works to support psychodynamic counselling by balancing insight with action, promoting agency and motivation, and supporting goal-oriented moments.

I offer both in-person sessions in Prestwich and Radcliffe, or online (via Zoom, Teams, WhatsApp or any preferred medium) or telephone sessions. Sessions are collaborative and flexible. You decide the pace, frequency, and format according to your needs.

Support packages and concessions are available to make therapy more accessible. I offer a free introductory phone call to assess whether I'm the right fit for what you're looking for.

Therapies & Rates

Please note the rates detailed below are there to give you an idea of the therapists standard rates, we strongly advise you contact the therapist for more detailed rates and any offers they may have.

Therapy	Appointment Type	Rate
Psychotherapy	In Person	£45 per 50 minutes
Psychotherapy	Online/Telephone	£45 per 50 minutes
Counselling	In Person	£45 per 50 minutes
Counselling	Online/Telephone	£45 per 50 minutes
Relationship Therapy	In Person	£55 per 50 minutes
Relationship Therapy	Online/Telephone	£55 per 50 minutes

Additional Rate Information

Cost is per 1 clinical hour session (50 minutes) of counselling £45.00 1 session of individual counselling £55.00 1 session of couples counselling Special Offers for Block Bookings: £120.00 3 sessions of individual counselling, if paid in advance £135.00 3 sessions of couples counselling, if paid in advance £210.00 6 sessions of individual counselling, if paid in advance £240.00 6 sessions of couples counselling, if paid in advance