Suzy Henry
Member Status: Accredited
Member No: NCS19-08563
Location: Sheffield
I have a deep trust in the healing capacity that a counselling/psychotherapy relationship can provide. I believe each individual brings with them their own qualities and experiences, everyone is exceptional and unique. Seeing beyond labels to the person, I recognize that it is the individual that knows themself best. I strive to build relationships in which clients say they feel empowered and listened to as I offer an attentive, understanding and accepting space.
I work with people from diverse backgrounds. Growing up with a visible difference, my own experience informs my particular passion and specialism in the impact of discrimination towards people who are viewed as ‘different’ and the impact that discriminatory behaviour can have upon us personally. I have a deep and nuanced appreciation of the complexities of oppression in areas of diversity and an innate understanding of identity trauma and the human condition in all its intricacies. This is helpful in therapy where it is crucial to comprehend issues pertaining to power and powerlessness and the ways these factors are heightened in traditional hierarchical systems.
Much of my work is in support of survivors of all types of abuse. The nature of my counselling practice allows the individuals I work with to explore their trauma; acquiring compassion, patience, and gentleness for self, the ability to feel in the present, and to develop healthy boundaries that allow personal growth and healing. I am a naturally empathic person and this helps me in my endeavour to form genuine and prizing relationships with people who may have little experience of this in their lives.
The person-centred approach, in which I am trained, sits comfortably with me ideologically. My professional values reflect my ethical commitment to the people I work with. By fostering relationships where the strengths and qualities of clients are respected and where power is shared equally, in a climate of warmth, I find that individuals are able to find their own voice. My experience is that people can develop the confidence and self-belief so that they are capable of dealing with future problems as they arise, guiding them in the exploration of possibilities and impossibilities. I offer a realness that is rarely available to us in our everyday lives. This kind of presence can be deeply therapeutic and ultimately lead to change.
I often work with clients who are in crisis and I work with clients who are experiencing particular areas of difficulty including anxiety, depression, hearing voices, alcohol and drug misuse - including clients who have grown up around alcohol and drug misuse - low self image, self-injury and self-harm, suicidal thoughts, PTS and post traumatic growth, childhood sexual exploitation, abuse and neglect, diversity and identity issues, relationship difficulties, domestic violence and gang violence. I work with young people who are living within social care settings and with mothers who have had children removed to this system. I work with young people who are struggling with difficult family and friendship dynamics and with bullying and exclusion. I have knowledge, experience and understanding working with autism and neurodiversity.
I previously worked as a therapist in the voluntary sector with children and young people. In my work I wished to empower young people to speak for themselves. I believe passionately in working collaboratively with children and young people to aid their own understanding of their experiences and ways of relating. Having originally studied Fine Art, I am comfortable with the use of creative materials as a way of exploring the world as the young person sees it beyond words.
Whilst training as a person-centred therapist I worked as a Recovery Worker for the NHS Mental Health Team in Sheffield, supporting people in crisis within their own homes. Whilst working within a medical model I retained the non-judgemental person-centred approach, which has empathic values at its core and aims to increase a person’s emotional knowledge. This remains extremely attractive to me and I found it to be especially compelling when working with vulnerable people within this setting.
As well as working as a person-centred therapist, I am a trainer with a particular interest in anti-discriminatory practice and have published several well received chapters in recent psychotherapy texts specifically dedicated to work within the diversity field.
I am an Accredited Registrant Member of the National Counselling Society.
I offer supervision to counsellors and psychotherapists.
(Age range 18+)
