Suneeta Gogna

Do you feel that you could benefit from talking to someone? This time of the year can be particularly challenging for many of us for many different reasons.  These can include exam time, cost of living crisis, financial strains, political and religious conflicts across the world, climate change, and personal situations and difficulties . Things can feel messy, stressful and unpredictable and any of these situations can exasperate mental health.  If you're struggling with your mental health and feel you could benefit from counselling, then please do contact me and we can have a free 15 minute initial conversation to discuss how I could support you.

About Me:

Oceanic Counselling offers a professional counselling service for Teenagers and Adults in the Hertsmere and wider area.  I offer face to face sessions and online or telephone sessions.  I have a certified Pets as Therapy dog (A 4 year old Labrador -Bella) to assist in sessions if you would like.

I am fully accredited with the National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society (NCPS) which means that you are choosing a counsellor from an Accredited Register and you have the assurance that I meet the high standards of working ethically and competently, offering you good quality care. I also hold an enhanced DBS (Disclosure and Barring Checking Service) Certificate.

I have 20 years of experience working with children and parents in my role as a Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator and Counsellor in a school. I support adults, teenagers and children and have produced and delivered an extensive training package to keyworkers throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, on supporting their own mental health and for their family and friends, including children.

My counselling service specialises in supporting teenagers, young people and adults who have experienced different types of losses, traumatic events and are experiencing a sudden bereavement.  I work as a volunteer counsellor for the Road Victims Trust charity to provide effective and personal counselling to those affected by death of loved ones or been victim/witness of a road collision. I also worked with The Samaritans as a listening volunteer, offering telephone or personal who are struggling to cope, including suicidal thoughts.

Having worked in schools for many years, I have the knowledge and understanding of how Young People (teenagers and children) need a different therapeutic approach to adults. I have a very good understanding of working with children and adults with Autism, ADHD and other challenges. I also hold a Mental Health First Aid Certificate in order to immediately spot symptoms of mental ill health in teenagers and children, to support and guide them with early intervention and prevent deterioration.

How I work:

I believe that the relationship between the counsellor and their client is one of the most important factors in successful therapy. To help with this, I offer a free 15 minute telephone consultation, allowing you to ask any questions you may have and to talk about how we could work together.

I offer short term and long term therapy, and sometimes, if needed, a one-off session can be beneficial, when we need to try and get our own thoughts together.  It always helps to speak to someone who is neutral and someone who is professionally trained who can show you a different perspective or help you find a way forward.

My approach uses a person-centred, integrative approach which focuses on clients as individuals, with their own unique life issues which are brought to counselling. An integrative approach tailors therapy to the client and ensures that all levels of a person’s being and functioning (mental, physical and emotional health) are maximised to their full potential.  By using a person-centred style, I assure a professional, non-judgmental, warm, empathic and safe approach, working at your pace.

With teenagers and children, my approach is adapted ensuring that they fully understand the concept and safeness of counselling and how it will help them to feel understood and validated. The transitions from child to teenager, and teenager to adult, are complex and fraught with conflict for the entire family. I can work with teenagers to navigate these transitions, empowering them to step into a new stage, in a trusted environment. With younger clients, I would use more creative methods, such as art and play therapy, which makes it easier to communicate fears and worries, and encourage them to express their emotions more freely.

I have found my own personal experience of the process of counselling very useful.  As part of my training and also at difficult points in my life, counselling helped through exploring and learning more about myself, working through difficulties and changing ways of relating with others for more positive interactions. This has been a valuable experience in being able to fully facilitate the counselling process for others.

I can help you work through various difficulties, including low moods, low self-esteem and low confidence, loss of self-worth, depression, anxiety,  study and exam stress, loss, bereavement, physical disabilities, workplace bullying, relationship issues and painful feelings arising from childhood difficulties and abuse.

My cultural background also allows me to relate to both Western and Eastern lifestyles, which enables me to understand the impact they can have on our lives, as these experiences can be very different.

How Counselling Can Help:

Approaching a counsellor can be a difficult step for many.  If you feel unsure about the process and still feel hesitant to make that initial telephone call, please feel free to email me or text me and I will respond at a time which suits you.  This will allow me the opportunity to put your mind at rest and explain how we can work together.  Remember that all calls and messages are totally confidential.  I take your confidentiality seriously, and this will be discussed with you at our first meeting.

Here are some of the benefits of counselling:

• Counselling can help you reflect and make sense of difficult life events.
• Talking to someone neutral, outside of your immediate situation, can show you a different perspective and help you find a way forward.
• Talking with a trained counsellor can help you to process difficult thoughts and feelings.
• Sharing your worries helps you feel less alone with the problem.
• You can gain a better understanding of yourself and a clearer sense of what you want and need.
• You can practise communicating more clearly and honestly in the safety of the counselling relationship.
• Counselling can help improve your relationships and your ability to communicate.
• Seeing a counsellor empowers young people to overcome and deal with their struggles, while also allowing them to feel understood.
• Counselling can improve your self-confidence and self-esteem.

My Practice Location

I am located 5 minutes drive from Radlett Station and there is free parking available on the road outside of the practice.

If preferred, I do provide a service where I can travel to you.  Please ask for further details.

I am also a trained Hypnotherapist and my profile is available on the National Hypnotherapy Society.

https://www.nationalhypnotherapysociety.org/find-therapist/results/hyp14-01341/

Please ask me for further details.

£55 per session (50 minutes); Evenings (post 6pm) and Saturdays £65 

I can offer sessions at your premises, fees can be discussed dependent on location.

I offer a free initial 20 minute phone call where we can explore the possibility of working together. Here I would be considering what is bringing you to therapy and I would be giving information about the way I work and there would be an opportunity for questions.