Dr Susan Jacques
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This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
My name is Susan and I am an HCPC registered Counselling Psychologist with over 16 years of experience of working in the NHS and voluntary services. I have worked with both children and adults in a wide variety of settings.
Coming to therapy
Most of us confront struggles in our life at some stage, but overcoming these is not always easy. These struggles might include challenges in our relationships, stress at work, or we may experience a significant life event that means we start to feel ‘stuck’. We may also encounter hurdles that interfere with our personal development which can lead to a lack of confidence and to feelings of self-doubt. Any of these experiences can make us feel vulnerable and can affect our mood, our emotions and behaviour. We may feel low, feel anxious or stressed, or simply feel different in some way.
I understand that taking that first step to talk to someone can be difficult, and thus I hope to create a safe place that encourages you to feel supported when you choose to share your story. As a therapist I give much value to working alongside you and to building a co-created therapeutic relationship.
Relating to you as a client
I am approachable and authentic, and offer a genuine and compassionate understanding of your emotional experience. I reflect back your thoughts and feelings, and offer feedback in a way that allows you to become the expert on working with your own challenges. This includes identifying what feels painful, what feels confusing, what feels important, and what directions to take to help repair what feels ‘broken’.
”The first step to getting somewhere is to decide that you are not going to stay where you are”.
I give much value as a therapist to a non-judgmental approach, respecting and accepting you as an individual regardless of what you may bring to therapy. I fully embrace difference, be it as it relates to race, social class, gender-role identity, sexuality, age, disability, religion and spirituality. I am both open-minded and curious.
Therapeutic approach
My approach is integrative in that I draw from a number of theoretical frameworks which are used at different times where appropriate to understand your experience, needs and goals. The treatment is tailored to your own ideas of personal growth and meaning, and I work holistically to explore all aspects of your physical and emotional wellbeing.The main approaches I draw from include transactional analysis (TA); this explores how our behaviour and social relationships reflect different aspects of our personality; psychodynamic therapy, a long term therapy which explores deep rooted problems, and shorter term approaches such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Compassionate Focuses Therapy (CFT).
Training, qualifications & experience
- Professional Doctorate in Counselling Psychology, City University London
- MSc in the Psychodynamics of Human Development, Birkbeck University of London/British Association of Psychotherapists
- Post Graduate Certificate in Primary Mental Health Care, London Southbank University
- Foundation in Group Psychotherapy, Goldsmiths, University of London
- Post Graduate Diploma Conversion in Psychology, Open University
- BA Hons. in Psychosocial Studies, University of East London
Professional Memberships
- Practitioner Psychologist with Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)
- Chartered Counselling Psychologist with the British Psychological Society (BPS)
- Enhanced DBS clearance
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 HCPC are an independent, UK-wide health regulator. They set standards of professional training, performance and conduct for 16 professions.
They keep a register of health professionals who meet their standards, and they take action if registered health professionals fall below those standards. They were created by a piece of legislation called the Health Professions Order 2001.
Registration means that a health professional meets national standards for their professional training, performance and conduct.
Areas of counselling I deal with
Therapies offered
Fees
£70.00 per session
Free initial telephone session
Concessions offered for
Additional information
My fees for both the initial meeting and ongoing sessions is £70. The assessment appointment is 60 minutes long. Ongoing 1:1 sessions are for 1 hour.
Further information
Areas I work with
Specialist areas of interest
- Depression
- Social phobia
- Self-esteem, self-compassion and personal growth
- Health Psychology, particularly adjustment to long-term physical health problems
