Individual counselling
“One of the most important things to consider before undertaking therapy is to find the right person to work with. The relationship with your therapist is paramount to the journey that you are about to undertake. How I work is very much about you as an individual, your uniqueness and your strengths. I value each person I work with and appreciate them for who they are in that moment.”
I am not a one size fits all counsellor - I don’t have a set way of working, instead I try my best to get a sense of you and use various models of counselling to suit your needs.
Different styles, different people. We are all unique, so that is how I work.
This is a warm, welcoming, safe, and confidential space to explore anything that you need to. There may be tears and revelations, but also laughter and shared moments of joy. Counselling is about coming back to yourself, improving your relationship with who you are and creating a life that you want to live. Humour and honesty are just as important as compassion and openness, and you will find all these qualities in our work together.
I come from a person-centred perspective – which means being led by you and what you need, while gently guiding you to understand yourself better and explore any challenges you are facing.
“You can immediately sense her years of experience, quiet strength, and empathy, no matter the situation or subject being discussed. ”
The connection we have, and the safety you feel as you begin to explore patterns of behaviour and long-held beliefs is paramount. I have particular experience in abuse- physical/psychological/sexual; addiction and eating disorders; anxiety and depression; loss, grief and miscarriage and low self-esteem – but you may find that while you come to me for one of the above issues, we work through a host of other things too.
The journey isn’t set in stone and we can pick our path and work through it together.
Counselling is a contractual agreement between counsellor and client to work together through any issues that you may have. We will establish as regular time slot and consistency with appointments, so you can come to rely on this weekly pocket of time just for you.
“I felt as though I could talk to Susan about anything. She has such a gentle nature and I always felt supported. She is quietly spoken but a strong woman and you can feel that when you are around her.”
Throughout my work, I draw on aspects of humanistic theory, which means like Carl Rogers I believe that human beings are essentially good people. As a counsellor, I provide an environment that offers genuineness, acceptance, space to grow and unconditional positive regard. I do my best to ensure each person feels seen and heard as well as understood. I also use other therapeutic tools and models of counselling dependent on your needs.
I offer a safe confidential space for you to be who you are in that moment. My aim is for you to get the best out of the therapeutic relationship and gain enough tools to live a healthy happy life.
“I always felt safe and held in the counselling space. She listened with her eyes and this was felt. I felt she understood everything I had gone through and could identify with my situation. She did not say this, but I felt it. I went through a difficult time during counselling because what I talked about was painful and hard, but I always felt safe and never felt judged. Susan is kind, warm and open. She is the best counsellor I ever had.”
“We must develop and maintain the capacity to forgive. He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love.
— Martin Luther King, Jr.