Sue Brennan
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This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
I am an experienced psychoanalytic psychotherapist and psychodynamic counsellor. I qualified as psychotherapist in 2001 and have been working in private practice since then.
My theoretical framework is psychodynamic. By this I mean that my experience and training lead me to believe in the power of the unconcious in shaping who we are and what we do, for better or worse and that, to some degree or another, unconcious processes need to be taken notice of if we are to bring about change. Within this understanding of the way our minds work I adapt my therapeutic approach to the needs of the individual
I can offer long term psychoanalytic psychotherapy to people who want to develop a greater understanding of themselves or who may be in training as therapists. I also offer time limited short term interventions, based on psychodynamic principals and some solution focused therapy techniques.
I believe that the theoretical focus of a therapist's practice is important. However, in my experience, what actually brings about the most change in people is having the opportunity to be listened to and thought about in a safe environment, by someone who can manage their painful feelings. To be thought about, understood and not judged can I believe, be a life changing experience
Training, qualifications & experience
I trained as a counsellor ar the Roehampton Institute In 1983. Since then I have worked with children, young people and their families as a mental health practitioner in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) as well as having a small private practice, counselling with adults.
In 2001 I qualified as a psychoanalytic psychotherapist from the Guild of Psychotherapists and became registered with the UKCP. Since then I have continued to work part time in CAMHS while expanding my private practice. In 2012 I moved from London to Somerset and continued some therapeutic work and supervision via Skype and phone.
I have always worked with clients with a wide range of presenting problems and with people from a wide range of cultural backgrounds. I have worked as a volunteer for several LGBT counselling services. I am very experienced in working with children and adolescents in my role as a CAMHS clinician
In 2015 I became a UKCP accredited supervisor and have been expanding my supervision work since. However I now have some spaces for individual clients who I can see at my home address or via Skype/FaceTime, if this seems appropriate.
As I have gained in experience as a therapist I have found that I can be most helpful to clients by trying to understand their difficulties in the context of their experience. My emphasis is always on understanding why things may be a certain way, rather than seeking to find someone to blame.
Member organisations
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 UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) is a leading professional body for the education, training and regulation of psychotherapists and psychotherapeutic counsellors. Its register is accredited by the government's Professional Standards Authority.
As part of its commitment to protect the public, it works to improve access to psychotherapy, to support and disseminate research, to improve standards and to respond effectively to complaints against its members.
UKCP standards cover the range of different psychotherapies. Registration is obtained by training or accrediting with one of its member organisations, or by holding a European Certificate in Psychotherapy. 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
Other areas of counselling I deal with
I have considerable experience in working with members of the LGBTQ community.
Therapies offered
Fees
Concessions offered for
Additional information
£55+
negotiable in some situations
