Sue O'Brien Counselling in Cardiff - 174 Whitchurch Road, Cardiff CF14 3NB
 
In person or online therapy for Individuals £80 | Students £60 (30 minute online introductory session free of charge) 
In person therapy for Couples £120
 

Introduction

 

I work in Cardiff either in person or online with individuals and in person with couples. 

I have particular skill in working with relationship issues, anxiety, depression, trauma, guilt, shame, fear, grief, anger, suicidal thinking, self-harm, disordered eating, substance use, and most of all, hope.

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‘Even the worst impulses and feelings - the urge to drink, the compulsion to cut oneself, the paranoid suspicions, the murderous fantasies - spring from parts of a person that themselves have a story to tell and the capacity to become something positive and helpful.........The point of therapy isn't to get rid of anything but to help it transform.’

Richard Schwartz, PhD

 

If you ever notice yourself saying 'there's a part of me that.....'  then my approach could be helpful to you.  I incorporate Systemic and Internal Family Systems (IFS) - simply put, I help you explore how the external 'systems' in your life (relationships, environment, cultural, religious etc) affect your internal family system - your 'parts'  (eg - emotions, beliefs, behaviours, impulses) - and vice versa. 

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​​​We often become aware of our parts when their presence is extreme, or they 'take over' for example, anxiety, depression, anger, substance use, self-harm, and it can be common to treat them as you would a troublesome family member by either giving into them or by getting angry with them and trying to push them away, sometimes into dark corners hoping they'll just go away.  This can work for a while, but inevitably, they can up their game and come back to kick your arse.

 

 When this happens it can be overwhelming, frightening and can affect your relationships and quality of life. 

So instead, focussing on the parts that are causing problems with curiosity and respect, you can change your relationship with them from one of frustration to one of understanding and compassion - approaching them this way changes their behaviours. and your relationship with yourself and others improves.

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I completely get that talking to a stranger about your inner most and sometimes darkest thoughts and behaviours is not easy, it takes courage, so if you've read this far and find you're noticing any curiosity towards my way of working, then feel free to contact me.

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For a short introduction into IFS, check out this 13 minute video

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