Susan McDonnell

I have 17 years of experience as a Person-Centred Counsellor and am a Registered Member of the BACP. I offer a confidential and professional service, following the standards of the BACP Ethical Framework.

I have worked as a lecturer in Further Education, and worked for 10 years as a Volunteer Counsellor in Manchester with a wide range of clients from varied backgrounds, ages, sexuality, culture and ethnicity.

My approach is based on collaborative exploration of a client’s experience, thoughts and feelings, enabling the individual to discover solutions to present difficulties and building confidence and self-esteem. I offer help to those experiencing anxiety, depression, relationship difficulties and whatever issues a client may wish to examine to gain insight and the ability to make changes.

Continuing Professional Development enriches my work and has included the study of approaches such as Transactional Analysis, CBT, Existential therapy, Relational therapy, Attachment theory and Time-Limited counselling.

Counselling is available on a Wednesday evening between 4.30 – 9 pm with a free first consultation and subsequent sessions are charged on a sliding scale according to income.

At the free initial consultation I ask clients to tell me their reasons for seeking counselling, and try to clarify their hopes for a desired outcome from therapy.  I describe my approach and explain how I work within the BACP ethical framework.  Fees for future sessions and methods of payment are described.

If clients wish to contract for a minimum of three sessions (after which I will review whether they are finding counselling helpful) I ask them to sign a Counselling Agreement which I also sign and we both have a copy of this agreement. 

We then agree the date and time of our next session.