Sue Blackshaw BA Hons, MBACP, NCPS Accredited
Discover the Strength Within You
Life can feel overwhelming, especially when you're navigating deep loss, unexpected change, or the quiet weight of anxiety and depression. In those moments, what if you had someone truly listening—someone trained not just to hear your words, but to understand what lies beneath them?
I am here to help you reconnect with your inner strength and rediscover a version of yourself that may feel lost or hidden. Through compassionate exploration and evidence-based approaches, I offer a safe, non-judgmental space where you can begin to make sense of your story, understand your emotional patterns, and develop practical coping strategies to manage life’s most difficult challenges.
I hold a BA (Hons) in Counselling and Psychotherapy and bring a wealth of experience working with a wide range of emotional difficulties, including grief, identity loss, and trauma. Whether you're facing the death of a loved one, the disorientation of a major life change like redundancy, or a shift in identity due to a medical diagnosis—I provide support that’s attuned to your unique experience.
In addition to traditional talk therapy, I am also trained in Brainspotting—a powerful therapeutic method that helps release trauma and emotional pain stored in the body. You can learn more about how Brainspotting can help in the section dedicated to this transformative technique.
I also facilitate weekly therapeutic groups through a local mental health CIC, focusing on key areas such as anxiety, depression, anger, and grief and loss. These groups not only provide emotional relief but foster meaningful connection, resilience, and shared growth among participants.
If you're ready to feel heard, understood, and supported in your journey—I'm here. Let’s work together to uncover the strongest, most resilient version of you.
Curly Therapy Animal
Meet Curly – The Four-Legged Therapist in Training
Sometimes healing begins not with words, but with the silent comfort of a soft nuzzle and the presence of an empathetic companion. That’s where Curly comes in—a therapy dog in training who’s already making a profound impact in the counselling room.
Curly is a Cavapoochon—a carefully bred mix of three of the most intelligent, affectionate, and emotionally intuitive breeds. Now 3 years old, she’s matured into a calm, gentle, and incredibly attuned co-therapist. With her warm eyes and instinctive sense of when someone needs extra comfort, Curly has an uncanny ability to put people at ease—especially during emotionally intense moments.
Whether she’s offering a calming presence in one-to-one sessions or bringing lightness and connection to group work, Curly helps create a space where healing feels safer, more grounded, and less alone.
Research continues to show that therapy animals reduce anxiety, lower cortisol levels, and help clients feel more emotionally regulated and secure. Curly brings all of these benefits—and adds her own special touch: unconditional love and the best cuddles around.
She is available to join counselling sessions on request, and frequently attends group therapy where her presence is always warmly welcomed.
If you find comfort in animals, or simply want a more soothing therapy experience, Curly may be just the companion you need on your journey toward healing.