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Home office in Wincanton, Somerset for face to face therapy.

From Surviving to Thriving

Empowering you to break free from your past

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From Surviving to Thriving

Empowering you to break free from your past

Start Now

learn more

InnerLight Counselling

Specialist Trauma Counselling and Therapy

InnerLight Counselling offers a range of therapeutic services to adults and young people (16+) who are living with the consequences of past abuse or trauma. I work to provide you with the necessary tools and support to truly heal from your past whilst reclaiming yourself and your life and achieve personal and spiritual growth. My holistic approach includes traditional Talk Therapy, EMDR (Eye Movement, Desensitisation and Reprocessing) and Life Coaching.

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About Me

Personal Introduction

Hello and a very warm welcome, my name is Susanna and I work as a BACP Accredited Counsellor, EMDR Therapist and trained Life Coach. I love life and was drawn into the counselling profession during my own healing, which began over two decades ago. Over the years, my practice has proved to be truly life-changing for myself and for those that I work with. At the core of my work is the notion of Self healing, alongside a gentle guiding presence.

If you would like specialist support in helping you free yourself from your past and achieve your goals, then I invite you to please get in touch.

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About InnerLight Counselling

Philosophy

I believe that peace and happiness is each person's birth right and that everybody can break free from their past, no matter how traumatic. I believe that you have everything within you to heal as each person has an innate intelligence designed to recover from trauma. I know how past experiences, especially throughout childhood, can shape the way we view ourselves, other people and the world, often creating huge limitations throughout life. Relationships in particular can feel triggering as they open up unresolved past wounds. Therapy through InnerLight Counselling focuses on healing the root cause of current difficulties to help you empower and reclaim yourSelf, so that you can create the life that you deserve.

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Experience

Philosophy

With almost 30 years experience in supporting those in need, which began throughout Education, I have worked as a Counsellor and Therapist supporting survivors of abuse and neglect for almost 10 years. As a BACP Accredited Practitioner, I undertake regular Clinical Supervision and ongoing training which allows me to keep up-to-date with changes in therapy and the helping professions. I am experienced in providing Pre-Trial Therapy (PTT) to clients throughout the criminal justice process. Throughout my career I have had the pleasure of supporting those presenting with varying clinical diagnoses and I am adept in providing a holistic therapeutic approach that caters to individual need.

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FAQS

Services

Philosophy

Services

I offer one-to-one Counselling, Life Coaching and EMDR sessions to adults and young people. Areas of expertise include healing from childhood trauma such as historic Childhood Sexual Abuse (CSA), emotional and physical neglect, early attachment wounds, physical violence and more recent sexual abuse (SA), assault, rape, domestic violence (DV) experienced as an adult. Within this, I also specialise in relationship issues such as co-dependency and/or narcissism. Contact me today to learn more about my services.

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How past Trauma can present now

Symptoms

Relationships

Traumatic memories present as symptoms which may include; dissociation and disconnection, physical pain, people pleasing, mistrust, aggression, anxiety, flashbacks, nightmares, depression, sleep issues, guilt, shame, worthlessness, substance abuse, self-destructive or risk taking behaviours, identity problems, little or no memories, lack of motivation and many more.

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Relationships

The way we relate to others can be hugely affected by our past experiences, especially within intimate relationships. The challenge involved in learning to trust ourself or others can create a push and pull dynamic that interferes with our ability to see things as they really are. The dilemma is that, although we may have a deep desire to connect, we may also experience an intense fear of doing so. This can create a void inside that can lead to self-isolation or unhealthy and even abusive attachments.

Attachment Theory

Parenting

Relationships

Emotional Regulation

The way we think and feel directly impacts our behaviours. Past trauma can make parenting especially demanding as we may not have learned the necessary skills to manage our own emotions. Aspects of our child's normal behaviour can trigger uncomfortable and even shameful thoughts and feelings. We can also feel unable to emotionally connect, intensifying the level of shame and sense of emptiness.

Emotional Regulation

Emotions can be hugely overwhelming. Seemingly small things can trigger big reactions that we and those around us may find difficult to understand. At times, we may feel like a child in an adult body. Life, other people and aspects of ourselves can feel confusing and disorientating. Sometimes, no matter how hard we try, we keep repeating the same behaviours that cause the same emotions feeling like we're stuck on a loop.

Grounding Techniques

Friendships

Emotional Regulation

Friendships

Building meaningful relationships with others demands a careful balance between giving and receiving. However, developing trust and having open and honest communication can leave us feeling exposed and vulnerable. Trauma can distort our perceptions and we can often see people and situations through the lens of our past. We may find ourselves within inappropriate or unsupportive relationships, deciding that a life without friendships is our only option.

Boundaries

Emotional Regulation

Friendships

Boundaries are a way of noticing where we begin and end. They provide a powerful way of being where we are able to move through life without feeling negatively impacted by the energy of others. Healthy boundaries mean that we are aware of when another person or situation steps over our line and we can respond appropriately from a place of strength rather than fear. Trauma often impacts our ability to maintain boundaries which can lead to unhealthy relationships, overwhelm and exhaustion.

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Information videos

Trauma Informed Counselling

I offer a Person Centred approach to counselling and integrate a variety of techniques and Psycho-educational resources throughout. I use a 3-Stage Model of trauma recovery based on self-understanding, exploration and conscious decision making so that you can step into the best version of you.

service details

EMDR

Some people are drawn to a more structured therapeutic approach and EMDR may be a good fit for you and your needs. At InnerLight Counselling, I will support you in making a therapy choice that is right for you. This will be done collaboratively at the first point of contact.

service details

Life Coaching

Sometimes we can feel stuck with no purpose or direction in our life. You may feel overwhelmed by what direction to take and a future focussed, goal orientated therapeutic approach may be right for you. At InnerLight Counselling, I offer a trauma responsive approach to Life Coaching that respects how your past may influence present difficulties and future goals.

service details

Trauma Informed Counselling

What is Trauma Informed Counselling

Trauma Informed Counselling is a form of talk therapy that aims to understand and then resolve the impact of past trauma. This therapeutic approach takes into account the pervasive nature and legacy of trauma. It emphasises building psychological, physical and emotional safety before exploring and then integrating traumatic memories.

How does it help

Rather than simply talking about current difficulties or past traumatic events, which can be extremely retraumatising, trauma responsive counselling is a collaborative approach that aims to create a solid foundation for therapeutic exploration. Using a 3- Phased Model, personalised strategies and techniques are carefully combined with psychoeducational resources to promote self-soothing and emotional regulation whilst learning to manage triggers and reactions. Understanding through self awareness is the gateway to being able to identify choice and promote conscious decision making. Trauma responsive counselling builds on individual understanding of the way past experiences have shaped the way a person views themselves, other people and the world. Through the counselling process a person can learn to Recognise, take Responsibility in the here and now and Regain a positive sense of Self based on who they choose to be free from perceived past limitations.

Appointments

EMDR

What is EMDR

EMDR (Eye Movement, Desensitisation and Reprocessing) is a powerful psychological treatment method that was developed by an American clinical psychologist, Dr Francine Shapiro, in the 1980s. It is a hopeful approach to therapy that recognises the fact that we are all genetically encoded to recover from traumatic experiences.

How does it help

Distressing past events can become locked in the nervous system as the brain may be unable to process the information like a normal memory. Unresolved trauma leads to the memory being neurologically frozen in time and continues to replay throughout everyday situations as if stuck on a loop. When a person recalls the distressing memory, the person can re-experience what they saw, heard, smelt, tasted, thought or felt, which can be quite intense and overwhelming. This reliving can feel so distressing that avoiding anything that may trigger the memory can feel like the only option to ease suffering.

The alternating left-right stimulation of the brain with eye movements, sounds or taps during EMDR, seem to stimulate the frozen or blocked information processing system. The effect is believed to be similar to that which occurs naturally during REM sleep (Rapid Eye Movement) when your eyes rapidly move from side to side. Throughout processing, the memories seem to lose their intensity, and allow the brain to file away events like ordinary memories meaning that they are no longer triggered.

Appointments

Life Coaching

What is Life Coaching

Life Coaching in its present format emerged from the USA over the last 20 – 25 years. More recently it has gained public recognition in Britain where it is enjoying phenomenal growth as more and more people discover the benefits. Life Coaching is a form of therapy that focuses on identifying future goals and aims to promote decisive action that is right for you. Self empowerment is at the heart of this approach as the primary aim is to build on skills you need to thrive.

How does it help

Life Coaching provides guidance, counsel, encouragement, focus and structure in a person's personal and professional/school life.* It tends to look at two areas of a person's life: identifying and pursuing their (life) purpose and refocusing their life now for greater happiness, energy, fulfilment and productivity. People are frequently unsure of what they want out of life in the short and long term and coaching can help to identify and then put in place the steps needed to realise their dreams. This can be a highly exhilarating experience as obstacles disappear and goals are achieved. To promote maximum benefit, the facilitation of self-knowing and self-understanding enables the person to be fully responsible for the reality that they are creating without self criticism or judgement.

*Please note, as with other therapeutic approaches, adaptations are always made for Young People.

Appointments

Prices

Price and session duration vary for Adults and Young People. All session times can be tailored to individual need.

Frequently Asked Questions

Please contact me if you are unable to find the answer to your question

What about your qualifications?

For assurance, check out my profile on the BACP (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy) website, link found on my 'About Me' page.

What about your experience?

Since my initial training (Dip4 Therapeutic Counselling), I have worked as a Specialist Trauma Informed Therapist for almost 10 years now with extensive experience supporting survivors of varying types of abuse and neglect.

How do I know what Therapy is right for me?

If you are unsure, you can book a free 15 minute initial consultation which can be used to help you decide what it is you would like to achieve from Therapy and what approach may be a best fit for you.

Do you offer in-person Therapy sessions?

Yes, I offer room appointments at my home office. For clients that live within a 5 mile radius of Wincanton, Somerset, sessions can be held in the comfort of your own home at no additional cost. Alternatively, sessions are held online via video platform (Teams/Google Meet/WhatsApp) or by telephone.

How often are my Therapy sessions?

Initial weekly sessions are recommended at the beginning of your Therapy to establish a good solid foundation for our work together. However, the frequency of sessions depends on you and your goals. Some clients prefer fortnightly or monthly sessions.

Can I book a set number of sessions?

Yes, within my existing service I offer time-limited and brief Therapy packages. You can discuss this during initial contact.

How do I book?

For Adults, you can book a free 15 minute Consultation, Counselling, EMDR or Life Coaching directly from my Online Appointments page. For Young People, please contact via my online Contact form or WhatsApp. I will get back to you and work with you to arrange next steps.

Do you offer concessionary rates?

Yes. I believe that quality therapy should be readily available to everyone that seeks support. If you are in financial hardship, you will be offered therapy at a reduced rate. Alternatively, I can signpost you to alternative services within the voluntary sector or NHS.

How do I pay?

Payments are to be made in full prior to your session via bank transfer. All details will be provided after you have made contact and we have agreed an appointment time.

What happens if I am unable to attend a session?

All sessions are paid for in advance. Any missed sessions without providing at least 24 hours notice are non-refundable. In the unlikely event that I am unable to attend, your session will be postponed and rescheduled at no additional cost.

From Surviving to Thriving

From Surviving to Thriving

InnerLight Counselling

Specialist Trauma Counselling and Therapy

About Me

Personal Introduction

Video Introduction

About InnerLight Counselling

Philosophy

Philosophy

Philosophy

Experience

Philosophy

Philosophy

Services

Philosophy

Services

How past Trauma can present now

Symptoms

Relationships

Relationships

Relationships

Relationships

Relationships

Parenting

Relationships

Emotional Regulation

Emotional Regulation

Emotional Regulation

Emotional Regulation

Friendships

Emotional Regulation

Friendships

Boundaries

Emotional Regulation

Friendships

Information videos

Trauma Informed Counselling

EMDR

Life Coaching

Trauma Informed Counselling

What is Trauma Informed Counselling

How does it help

EMDR

What is EMDR

How does it help

Life Coaching

What is Life Coaching

How does it help

Prices

Adult Services

Trauma Informed Counselling

Life Coaching

EMDR

Services for Young People

Trauma Informed Counselling

Life Coaching

EMDR

Discover What Clients Say About InnerLight

Life Coaching with InnerLight Counselling

Frequently Asked Questions

Contact InnerLight Counselling

Drop me a line!!

InnerLight Counselling

Hours

Registered Memberships

Associations

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