Sebastiana Black

Tuesdays and Wednesdays - daytime and evenings, Mondays - from 5pm. Monday daytime- outdoor sessions only.

I am an Integrative Counsellor, working with adolescents and adults. My approach is integrative which allows me to be flexible and responsive as I draw on different types of therapy to help you to reach your goals. This includes relational, person-centred and psychodynamic approaches, expressive arts, Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy, Internal Family Systems, Self-Compassion and Ecotherapy. My work is trauma informed.

I have worked with adults, young people and their parents/carers privately, in schools, therapeutic centres and residential homes since 2008. I am a Mindful Self-Compassion teacher. I also have a certificate in Ecotherapy which allows me to bring therapy outdoors. Before my studies in Integrative Arts Child and Adolescent Counselling I trained as a Voice Movement Therapist and a teacher and have worked with young people and adults since 1995 in various settings. I am currently embarking on level 1 training in Internal Family Systems and will be offering sessions using this approach.

I offer a non-judgmental and confidential space where you can make sense of your past and present experiences, including feelings, thoughts and different aspects of yourself, at your own pace. In my sessions your experiences and challenges can be explored, processed and transformed in a variety of ways - verbally and non-verbally, experientially and somatically. This can be helpful for those who find it hard to put their experiences into words or want to find other ways to express themselves.

I support adolescents, young people and adults to become more self-awareness, connect with their senses, body and mind, understand their nervous system and learn ways to cope with stress and mental health difficulties. I offer a supportive and therapeutic space for parents who want to make sense of their experiences as parents and the needs of their children. As an immigrant, I also specialise in supporting people who live in a different culture and may experience ambiguous loss.

I provide short- and long-term therapy face to face and online. My counselling room is in Norwich in the Golden Triangle and is equipped with creative materials (paint, clay, small world figures, sandtray, craft materials, musical instruments, etc). I also offer sessions outdoors in various natural locations in Norwich, Norfolk and Suffolk.

To get started, just send me an email or give me a call to arrange an initial session. If you have questions first, I offer a 15-minute phone consultation at no charge.

In terms of teenagers (15+), in the first meeting we'll discuss what brings them to therapy, address any questions or concerns they might have, and see whether it feels right to work together. As for younger teenagers, I often speak to parents first in a parent session and offer regular reviews for parents.

If we all decide to continue, we can then arrange a regular time and day that works for you.

I work on freelance basis and can be flexible in terms of running courses for you. I offer evening courses too.

I am a Mindful Self-Compassion Teacher and offer 8 or 6-week long courses for organisations, in person or online.

Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) is an evidence-based resource-building programme, designed to support you to develop a kinder relationship to yourself, to others and the world, when you are experiencing struggle. If you can learn to be mindful in these times of difficulty and respond to yourself with compassion, change can happen. MSC gives you the understanding and practical tools you need to bring more mindfulness and self-compassion into your life, whether that be at home, work or college.

Some examples of topics explored in the courses or one-to-one sessions: self-compassionate motivation, letting go of resistance, the physiology of self-criticism and self-compassion, mindfulness, self-compassion and our bodies, developing loving-kindness, identifying our core values, encountering difficult emotions, self-compassion and shame, understanding hidden needs, self-compassion in relationships, caregivers' fatigue, self-appreciation and taking in the good.

Past courses that I have delivered:

8-week online course for the mental health charity, Mind.

6-week online course for care leavers at East Anglia-based charity, Break.

3-week online course for youg carers at East-Anglia-based charity, Caring Together.

6-week online course for creators at Essex-based company, The Writers' Company

Mindful Self-Compassion courses and sessions I offer in person or online, either in the evening or daytime:

8-week course, 2.5–3 hours each week.

6-week course, 1.5 hours each week, designed for health care professionals.

6/8-week 'Making Friends with Yourself' course, 1–2 hours each week, for teens.

Bespoke 2/4-week courses personalised to your organisation and needs.

Taster sessions (1 hour).

One-to-one sessions to help you integrate the topics and practices, which can be combined with counselling or the other therapies I offer.

I offer free taster and orientation sessions.