About me
I'm Shannen a Psychotherapeutic Counsellor and Clinical Supervisor with over eight years of experience supporting children, young people, and adults, I am dedicated to helping you better understand yourself and the challenges you may be facing. I offer a warm, integrative approach in a safe and compassionate space.
I believe that since every person is unique, our time together should be tailored specifically to your individual needs and life story. I understand that reaching out for help can feel daunting or even overwhelming. My goal is to provide a reliable space where you feel safe, heard, and able to speak openly without any fear of judgment.
You might be feeling overwhelmed, or struggling with emotions that feel intense or difficult to manage. For some, this can show up as anxiety, self-harm, or relationship difficulties. For others, it might feel like something deeper, patterns that keep repeating, or the impact of past experiences that feel so present.
I specialise in working with young people and adults who are experiencing complex emotional and relational difficulties, often linked to trauma, overwhelming feelings, or experiences that are hard to make sense of.
How I Work
I work in an integrative way, adapting my approach to suit each individual client and their unique needs. Drawing from a range of therapeutic approaches, including Person Centred and Psychodynamic theory, I also work creatively where appropriate, depending on how a client best connects within therapy. I offer a warm, supportive, and non-judgemental space where clients can explore their thoughts, feelings, and experiences safely and at their own pace. Alongside supporting present-day challenges such as anxiety, trauma, low self-esteem, relationship difficulties, or feeling overwhelmed, I believe it can also be helpful to explore how past experiences, childhood relationships, and the environments we grow up in may continue to shape the way we feel, cope, and navigate life today. My approach is collaborative, gentle, and centred around helping clients feel understood, build self-awareness, and create meaningful change.
I believe therapy isn’t about ‘fixing’ you, it’s about helping things feel clearer, more manageable, and less overwhelming. This is your journey.
What I Can Help With
I often work with people who have experienced complex, intense, or difficult feelings that can be hard to explain and articulate.
This can include-
- Anxiety that feels overwhelming or persistent
- Self-harm or thoughts of suicide
- The impact of trauma or abuse
- Relationship or family difficulties
- Feeling stuck in patterns that are hard to understand
- Emotional overwhelm or difficulty coping
- Loss and bereavement
You don’t need to have everything figured out before coming to therapy, we can begin wherever you are.
Working with Young People
I have extensive experience working with young people, my background was leading a large Counselling service in a senior school, supervising a team of therapists, and supporting adolescents, adults, staff as well as families through complex challenges, such as anxiety, self-harm, abuse, trauma, or emotional distress.
I understand how overwhelming things can feel at this stage of life, especially when emotions are intense or difficult to put into words. I offer a space where young people can feel genuinely heard and understood, without pressure or judgement. My aim is to help young people begin to make sense of what they’re feeling, develop safer ways of coping, and feel less alone in what they’re going through to better their future.
Adults, Relationships & Family Work
I also work with adults, parents, and couples who may be feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or caught in difficult relationship patterns.
Often, past experiences can show up in current relationships in ways that feel confusing or hard to change. Together, we can begin to understand these patterns and create space for something different.
When a young person is struggling, it can affect the whole family. Supporting parents and relationships can be an important part of helping things shift more widely.
Supporting Parents & Relationships
Being a parent myself, I understand how deeply parenthood can impact identity, relationships, and emotional wellbeing. The pressures of daily life can leave parents and couples feeling overwhelmed, disconnected, or unlike themselves.
I am very passionate about supporting parents, couples, and families to reconnect with themselves and one another, strengthening communication, closeness, and understanding.
Next Steps
Starting therapy can feel daunting as we know, but it’s so important that you feel comfortable with the person you choose to work with.
I offer a free initial conversation where we can think together about what’s bringing you to therapy and whether I’m the right fit for you.
You can also visit my website for more information about how I work, including my experience supporting young people, adults, and families. www.sunrosecounselling.co.uk
Training, qualifications & experience
I am a qualified Psychotherapeutic Counsellor and Advanced Clinical Supervisor.
I am a registered member of the National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society (NCPS) and work in accordance with their ethical framework.
I engage in regular Continuing Professional Development (CPD) to ensure my practice remains current, reflective, and aligned with best professional standards.
I bring experience from leading a large school counselling service, where I worked closely with external services such as CAMHS, MHST, GPs, Social Workers and the Children's Crisis Assessment & Treatment Team (CCAT). I supported safeguarding and child protection concerns within a robust ethical framework.
I am trained to Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) level, and this advanced safeguarding knowledge continues to inform the professionalism, care, and boundaries I bring to my private practice too.
Alongside my therapeutic work, I offer individual and group supervision to qualified counsellors, trainees, and other professionals seeking reflective and challenging clinical space.
Member organisations
school Registered / Accredited
Being registered/accredited with a professional body means an individual must have achieved a substantial level of training and experience approved by their member organisation.
The National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society This Not For Profit association of counsellors and psychotherapists aim to support the counselling profession, members and training organisations. In 2013 the NCS register was accredited by the Professional Standards Authority under the Accredited Voluntary Register Scheme. Accredited by the Professional Standards Authority.
Accredited register membership
The Accredited Register Scheme was set up in 2013 by the Department of Health (DoH) as a way to recognise organisations that hold voluntary registers which meet certain standards. These standards are set by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA).
This therapist has indicated that they belong to an Accredited Register.
Areas of counselling I deal with
Therapies offered
Fees
£60.00 per session
Concessions offered for
Additional information
What I offer
Online sessions via Zoom or Telephone for 50 minutes
Face-to-face sessions for 50 minutes. I offer in-person counselling from rooms in Stevenage and Hertford.
Sessions usually take place on the same day and time each week, which helps provide consistency. However, if this is difficult for you, I will always try to be as flexible as possible where I can.
I also offer a free 15 - 20 minute initial consultation. This gives us an opportunity to briefly talk about what has brought you to counselling and for you to see whether you feel comfortable working with me.
When I work
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