Welcome
We all go through tough times. When you feel stuck, lost or in crisis, the supportive space of counselling can help you find a way forward.
Sessions with Susan
I am a counsellor based in the Lisburn area (near Belfast in Northern Ireland) who especially enjoys working with people in the creative arts and industries and those wishing to develop their creative side. I provide online and telephone sessions for adults based within the UK. For more details about online and phone counselling, please see the "Online and phone counselling" page of the website.
My approach
My style of counselling is rooted in the person-centred approach. This means I work on the principle that every human being has their own innate potential for growth and healing. My role is to help the person access that potential, so they can flourish and thrive. In particular, I focus on developing a counselling relationship which is warm, understanding and honest, and which respects the pace of the individual.
The second therapeutic method which I use is Internal Family Systems (IFS), where I am qualified as a Level 2 Practitioner. IFS sits well alongside person-centred counselling, as both theories acknowledge that the source of recovery is located within the person themselves (although sometimes temporarily out of awareness). IFS calls this source "Core Self." Counselling and/or IFS provide safe and effective means of improving self-awareness, acceptance and self-esteem. These approaches can also help with a wide range of situations and issues. If you are particularly interested in IFS sessions, please see the Internal Family Systems page.
As mentioned above, I always listen carefully to what my clients tell me about their creativity, and I aim to foster and encourage this as a powerful source of wellbeing. I have a special interest in writing for therapeutic purposes, plus the necessary knowledge and skills to support you with this, if you are interested. 
Creative Writing for Therapeutic Purposes
If you enjoy writing, or even if you haven't ever done much, Creative Writing for Therapeutic Purposes (CWTP) can be a very nourishing experience. CWTP focuses on the process of writing for self-expression and also helps us to befriend ourselves. The outcomes often include increased self-knowledge, acceptance, and the accessing of our own inner wisdom (which in IFS terms means more contact with Core Self). Let me know if you are interested in trying CWTP, as I can offer simple writing exercises to try out between counselling/IFS sessions.
What issues can counselling help with?
Counselling may help you cope with the following:
- Change
- Bereavement
- Relationship issues, including separation & divorce
- Stress-management
- Confidence, assertiveness and self-esteem
- Work problems
- Redundancy
- Anxiety and depression.
“Hope” is the thing with feathers -
That perches in the soul -
And sings the tune without the words -
And never stops - at all
Emily Dickinson
What people say...
On completing his set of counselling sessions, one person said,
"My mental health has taken a quantum leap forward. I like being me."
Another client commented,
"It's been amazing!"
For an informal chat about online/telephone counselling or online IFS sessions, please call: +44 (0)7581 325846 or click here to email me. Alternatively, you may find answers to some of your questions on the Contact & FAQ page of this website.
(Central portrait image copyright Hannah Mitchell, 2021)
