Sue Delaney
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This professional is accepting new clients but may have a waitlist. Please enquire with them directly to discuss availability.
This professional is accepting new clients but may have a waitlist. Please enquire with them directly to discuss availability.
About me
Need help with feelings of anxiety, depression or prolonged grief? Or are you struggling to heal from a traumatic experience or relationship?
Perhaps you're suffering from such feelings as "I worry all the time – I'm exhausted", "I'm always so sad and lonely", "I'm constantly angry – and I don’t know why", or you have thoughts like "I want to hide away from the world", "I can't find a way out of my grief", "Why do my relationships never work out?", "I hate myself" or "I just don't know who I am anymore".
Instinctively we all know talking helps, but when life overwhelms us, it may be hard to let those we're close to know how we truly feel. This may leave us anxious, feeling alone and unsure of ourselves. At these times, we may need the clarity of someone trained to support us to move forward and counselling can help you see your current situation from a fresh perspective.
What you can expect:
I am a qualified, compassionate and empathic counsellor based in Hitchin, Hertfordshire. At the heart of what I do is help you to change the relationship you have with yourself. I provide an atmosphere of trust and confidentiality, allowing time and space to understand what’s going on for you so you can make the changes you want.
I work on an individual, one-to-one basis with adults aged 18+ and specialise in helping people with:
- overcoming anxiety & stress
- improving low mood & depression
- rebalancing after traumatic or abusive experiences & relationship
- finding a way through difficulties in adulthood that stem from childhood emotional neglect
- living with grief & accepting loss & bereavement
- building self-esteem, self-worth & boosting confidence
- forming healthier ways to relate to friends, family & partners.
My core approach to counselling is psychodynamic. This means that, as we look at your current situation, we will also begin to identify and explore how your past experience may have affected your life today in ways that may not be immediately apparent. At times, this may bring up painful and confusing emotions which I will support you through.
It is important to me to be honest about what I do and don’t offer. I don’t offer specific solutions or tell you what needs to be fixed. Instead, we work together to help you identify your own difficulties and find your own answers. Focussing on what you want to get out of counselling is central to the process. This therapy may not be the right choice if you are unable to attend regular sessions or if you believe what is past is past and that there is no benefit in exploring the meaning of previous experiences.
We can work in one of three ways:
Brief therapy (usually 10-12 sessions) – aimed at working with an exclusive focus on one specific issue.
Short-term therapy (around 20-30 sessions) – most suited to working through difficult life transitions, such as a bereavement, improving decision-making.
Long-term therapy (ongoing) – by working at your own pace, for as long you need, we can address deeper issues and develop personal growth.
First meeting: I believe the quality of the relationship between counsellor and client is key for therapy to be effective, so suggest a free 30-45 minute introductory meeting.
This is a conversation between the two of us to help me know more about your past and present experiences, what brings you to counselling at this time and what you would like to change. Above all, this is your opportunity to experience how I work so you can make an informed decision about whether I'm the right person to support you and to ask any questions you may have.
Most people have some nervousness about contacting a professional. If you need to discuss anything that will make you more able to attend an appointment, let me know advance so you feel as comfortable as possible.
Afterwards, you're welcome to take some time to think about whether you'd like to move ahead to regular appointments. Ongoing sessions cost £55 and are usually held weekly.
To get started, message or call me with a brief outline of why you are seeking counselling and which days/times you are available.
Training, qualifications & experience
I have completed extensive training accredited by the BACP:
- Post-Graduate Advanced Diploma in Psychodynamic Counselling
- Diploma in Psychodynamic Counselling
- Foundation Certificate in Psychodynamic Counselling
I also have undertaken further trauma-focused training including:
- Dr Gabor Mate's Compassionate Inquiry (Short Course)
- Emotion-Focused Individual Therapy (EFIT) for Trauma Levels 1 & 2
- More Than Words - a polyvagal/body-guided workshop for regulating post-traumatic emotional states by Trauma Centre Manchester
I have practised clinically for eight years (as both a trainee and post qualification). As well as my private practice, I have also worked for the NHS-funded IAPT Counselling for Depression service, in a GP surgery for a short time and within a Victims of Crime contract. I am a former Samaritans volunteer and previously held placements at two charitable counselling agencies.
I am a Registered Member of the British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists (BACP) and I adhere to its' codes of ethics. My work is clinically supervised and I hold enhanced DBS clearance. I am also registered with the ICO for data protection purposes and I committed to ongoing training and personal development.
Member organisations
BACP is one of the UK’s leading professional bodies for counselling and psychotherapy with around 60,000 members. The Association has several different categories of membership, including Student Member, Individual Member, Registered Member MBACP, Registered Accredited Member MBACP (Accred) and Senior Registered Accredited Member MBACP (Snr Acccred).
Registered and accredited members are listed on the BACP Register, which shows that they have demonstrated BACP’s recommended standards for training, proficiency and ethical practice. The BACP Register was the first register of psychological therapists to be accredited by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA).
Accredited and senior accredited membership are voluntary categories for members who choose to undertake a rigorous application and assessment process to demonstrate additional standards around practice, training and supervision.
Individual members will have completed an appropriate counselling or psychotherapy course and started to practise, but they won’t appear on the BACP Register until they've demonstrated that they meet the standards for registration. Student members are still in the process of completing their training.
All members are bound by the BACP Ethical Framework and a Professional Conduct Procedure.
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
Photos & videos
Fees
£55.00 per session
Free initial in-person, telephone or online session
Concessions offered for
When I work
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My normal working hours are Mon-Thurs 9am-7pm, Fri 9am-12 noon. ***My current availability is on Tuesday and Thursday daytimes only as shown above. All evening sessions are full***
Further information
Choice of Appointments I offer face-to-face, online video and telephone sessions. A blend of in-person and remote sessions can be offered if needed.
Relationship Therapy I cannot offer couples counselling. I work on an individual, one-to-one basis so we can explore your attachment style with the aim of developing more satisfying bonds with partners, children, parents or siblings.
