Susan Ward

I work on Tuesday and Thursday daytime and evenings but offer some flexibility where this is not possible for you due to a varied shift rota or other difficulty.

I have some availability on Tuesday and Thursday at present.

I am an experienced counsellor of twenty years and work with people from different walks of life with a variety of presenting problems. I aim to be authentic, available and approachable to my clients to enable trust to develop in their relationship with me.

I work face to face as well as online and practice one to one or couples counselling. 

I am a trained psychodynamic counsellor, which looks at how issues in the present may be rooted in our past experiences. An essential feature of the counselling is the relationship between counsellor and client. It is important to me to provide a safe, confidential and secure space where the client feels heard. 

Until my retirement as a nurse in 2012 I worked in an intensive care unit for many years and have an extensive knowledge of the stress a hospital environment can bring for hospital workers, patients and their families. I currently provide counselling to individuals with an intensive care background but am keen to work with people from all areas of the hospital environment, including ex patient's or their families.

I worked for a number of years in a drug and alcohol rehabilitation centre and continue to have an interest in this field.

Most recently I have completed an Adoption Support Counselling course to enable me to work with individuals who have been adopted and to enhance my skills and knowledge in counselling others connected with adopting or fostering a child.

I can help clients with bereavement, loss, anxiety, depression, work related issues, chronic and acute illness, eating disorders, self-harm, abuse, trauma, low self-esteem, anger management and relationship difficulties. 

Our first meeting will be an opportunity for us to get a sense of one another and a fact finding exercise for me to understand your current situation and what has brought you to counselling.

I will look at your past relationships and experiences from early years onward to get a sense of how that may be impacting on you in the present. I believe that our early life experiences shape and mould how we behave as adults. By exploring and unpacking these experiences I can help you find new ways of thinking, relating and behaving. 

Change is always possible and together we can help you to move forward. With this in mind I would ask you what you would hope to get out of your counselling with me.

I look forward to meeting you.