Suzanne O'Leary

I currently have availability every weeknight from 5pm.

Hello there, I am Suzanne, a person-centred counsellor working in Brighton and Hove.  This means I have a client led approach and believe that you are the expert on yourself and your own life. 

Life's complexities mean that all too often we lose our sense of self; life can feel like it has lost meaning and we lose our clarity, personal connections, sense of direction, motivation and purpose, which can all impact on our relationships and wellbeing. 

My role is to be alongside you as you find a path that is back in line with your true self and help to navigate a way ahead. 

I use an integrative style in my client work, but essential to my approach are the values of empathy, compassion, acceptance and authenticity. I trust that we all have the inner wisdom and resources that we need to lead happy and fulfilling lives, but that sometimes our conditioning, relationships, inner critic, adaptations, and the fragmentation of modern life can lead us off course, causing great emotional pain and anxiety.

I have had years of experience directly supporting survivors of domestic violence and sexual abuse and I have a deep understanding of the complexities and long-term impact this can have.

I am a qualified yoga teacher with a specific interest in therapeutic and somatic yoga, which explores the embodiment of trauma and unprocessed emotions and the incredible power of listening to our bodies to help us to heal. I have a particular interest in compassion focussed therapy and its effectiveness in over-coming shame and a sense of unworthiness.

I am an adoptive mother to two children, who inspire me and teach me something new every day. Preparing for this particular role in life guided me towards researching attachment and its influence throughout life and relationships, the impact of trauma on the nervous system, the consequences of separation and loss, and the formation of identity and a sense of belonging.

It can feel very isolating to struggle with life's challenges but you are not alone and I will be alongside you to help find a way through.  

I am trained as a person-centred counsellor, which is a humanistic approach to therapy, rooted in the idea that a relationship can be healing if there are conditions of empathy, compassion and trust in the person to know what is best for them.

I offer a safe space in which to feel heard and understood so that you can explore your thoughts and feelings without judgement and tap into your own resources to find a way to navigate through what is troubling you.  

I will aim to help you to build your confidence, self-acceptance and resilience to get through life's challenges. 

I offer a 15 minute initial phone call so that you can gain a sense of me over the phone and ask any questions.

If you would like to go ahead and meet, in our first session we will explore what brought you to therapy, discuss how long you wish to have counselling for, as well as your goals and expectations. I can meet you in person in my therapy rooms in Brighton and Hove. 

I can work flexibly on a short-term or long-term basis. I currently offer weekday evenings.