About me
I work with all different kinds of couples and with adults 1-1 providing a comfortable, safe space to explore what is really going on. I am creative and collaborative in my approach and will discuss how we might work together in order to tailor our sessions to best suit your needs. If you are neurodivergent I will strive to adapt my way of working by asking you what works better for you to meet your needs.
I offer an initial 20 minute telephone or Zoom consultation free of charge, to determine what you are finding difficult and how I might help.
You will find details of my qualifications and training below. My special areas of interest are:-
-Relationship issues including sexual function problems, sexual desire discrepancies, communication difficulties, loss of trust, unwanted sexual behaviours, painful sex and regaining sexual confidence following illness, surgery, menopause etc.
-Women's health, peri-menopause and menopause
-Trauma
-Suicidal feelings
-Bereavement and dealing with loss by suicide
-All forms of abuse
-Coping with illness and disability
-Panic disorder and phobias
-Anxiety
-Depression / Feeling sad/ Feeling life has lost meaning or sparkle
-Improving communication, self-esteem and assertiveness
1. Working with couples:-
In couples work I see my role as facilitating what becomes hopefully a richer communication between you both. It is important to be really clear that I will not be taking sides, but listening without judgement to what each of you have to say about how you feel about your situation. This can then lead to an exploration of how you both might wish to move forwards, even if that feels like an impossibility right now. I work with a sex positive attitude. Please check the video section of this profile if you would like to hear me being interviewed for a podcast 'Thriving in our Forties' on the subject of couples therapy and issues around sex, intimacy, menopause, marriage and divorce. Watching this might help you get a feel for how I work as a couples therapist.
Types of couples:-
I work with all kinds of couples, of all sexual orientation, ethnicity, religious background and this might even mean siblings, father/daughter, mother/son for example. I do not see more than 2 people.
My preference is to have had contact with both of you, prior to our first session together. It helps to make each party feel they are on an equal footing from the start.
2. Working with Adults one to one:-
I will work alongside you looking at your challenges, source of distress, future personal goals and relationships. Our therapeutic relationship is key in helping to unblock areas in your life that may feel stuck or painful. By gaining a deeper self-awareness, therapy can guide you to consider new ways of thinking and feeling about a situation and leading to new actions and behaviours which can be quite life-changing.
Depending on the issues you bring, I might suggest incorporating Mindfulness. Simply put, Mindfulness involves acceptance, meaning that we pay attention to our thoughts and feelings without judging them—without believing, for instance, that there's a “right” or “wrong” way to think or feel in a given moment. Sometimes I might suggest using other creative means to help you tap in to your feelings, but ultimately you choose. You may just wish to talk and that is fine too.
I work with a sex-positive attitude. This means I can offer you a non-judgemental exploration in to what sex, sexual identity and sexuality means to you if this is important to you.
I work with both short and long-term clients, offering face to face and/or video call sessions as most appropriate to your needs.
3. Working with victims of crime:-
Provider of therapeutic interventions to victims of crime through the Victims First Specialist Counselling Service across Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire.If you have been a victim of crime and require support you can contact Victims First on 0300 1234 148 or by visiting www.victims-first.org.uk
4.Working as an approved BUPA registered provider :-
- BUPA please look on https://finder.bupa.co.uk/go/mrs_suzette_castle_mackie
I work within the BACP ethical framework and hold full professional civil liability insurance. I am a member of the Accredited Voluntary Register which has been accredited by the Professional Standards Authority. You can check to see if a therapist is registered with them by going to their website:- http://www.bacpregister.org.uk/
I am committed to continual professional development to enhance my therapeutic work.
There are so many different types of therapy on offer that it can be very confusing pinpointing what you might need. You may find it helpful to call or email me so I can try to help answer any questions.
Training, qualifications & experience
Psychotherapy & Counselling Qualifications and related continued professional development training:-
- 2025 Studying Diploma in Clinical Supervision Clinical Institute of Contemporary Sexology. Expected award September 2026.
- 2021 Certificate in Psychosexual Therapy, Clinical Institute of Contemporary Sexology. (42 guided learning hours & 204 total qualifying hours) COSRT accredited thematic training course Level 7.
- 2016 Person-Centred Couples Counselling Certificate, Counselling Works Ltd. 6 days training. (42 CPD hours)
- 2014 Advanced Diploma Integrated Psychotherapy, Regent's University London. (ADIP)
- 2013 Post Graduate Diploma Integrated Psychotherapy, Regent's University London.(PG DIP)
- 2010 Foundation Certificate in Counselling & Psychotherapy, Regent's College.
Previous Experience:-
- Tackling the psychological aspects of obesity in weight management groups, working with Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT).
- Psychotherapist and Counsellor for Cotswold Counselling. Face-to-face sessions offering both short and long term psychotherapy with Adults.
- Help-line volunteer and Trustee for AAA-Norcap (Adults Affected by Adoption).
- Respite Foster carer trained in working with children with ADHD, Autism, anxiety and attachment disorder.
- Listener and Trainer for The Samaritans working with adults and teenagers through face-to-face, email and telephone contact working with despair, self-harming and suicidal feelings.
- Facilitator, Learning and Development Consultant and Communications Skills Trainer for 17 years with a broad range of organisations in the Public and Private Sector on staff and management training programmes and strategic reviews.
- Team-Building events and programmes for corporates, adults, schools and young people.
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
Other areas of counselling I deal with
BUPA registered therapist.
Working with all kinds of couples including LGBTQ+, siblings, mother-son.
Career and workplace dilemmas.
Sex-positive therapy.
Obesity related counselling for emotional eaters.
Working with victims of crime through VictimsFirst for Thames Valley Police.
Therapies offered
Photos & videos
Fees
£80.00 - £120.00
Health Insurance/EAP
Additional information
I offer a free introduction session online via zoom and lasts up to 20 minutes.
£80 per 50 minute session for individuals.
£120 per 90 minute session for couples.
£90 per 60 minute session for one to one Trauma /Psychosexual Therapy.
Fees are payable by bank transfer, cheque or cash on the day of the session before or during the session. If you have a BUPA health insurance package then please check your eligibility to work with me and seek an authorisation number to provide me with in order to book a session that is covered by them.
I offer an initial free of charge 20 minute secure online consultation via Zoom for you to determine if you would like to book a first appointment with me and ask any questions you may have about working with me.
When I work
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Earliest start time is 9am and latest start time is 5pm.
Further information
In order for me to agree work with you safely I will need to take some personal details including your home address, date of birth and GP details.
I also am offering Zoom/online sessions for those unable to attend face to face.
More details can be talked through in our introductory phone call so you can determine what suits your needs.
