Susie Bates Counselling

MA MBACP

info@susiebatescounselling.co.uk

Psychotherapeutic counselling with neurodivergent ADHD therapist

You might recognise some of this.

Your mind doesn’t really switch off. At night it’s busy replaying conversations, spotting patterns in your relationships, or running through everything you meant to say.

During the day you function, you get on with life, but there’s a constant background noise in your head that never fully settles. Alongside this, you might be living with a constant sense of anxiety or low mood that never quite lifts, even when life looks “fine” on the outside.

It can feel hard to talk about this properly.

You may question yourself more than you’d like, carrying old experiences that still show up in your confidence, your relationships, or in how safe you feel in the world. Friends and family try to help, but it often lands as “you’re overthinking” or “just don’t worry so much”. Some things feel too complex, too personal, or too heavy to say out loud.

Online isn’t much calmer either. You scroll past ADHD and neurodivergent content, some of it hits home, some of it doesn’t, and a lot of it just adds to the noise when what you’re really craving is a bit of space.

What I offer is a quieter place to land. A steady, unpressured space where you don’t have to explain yourself neatly or arrive with the right words. You can jump between thoughts, talk things through out loud, sit quietly, or let it all spill, whatever you need in that moment.

There’s room here for anxiety, low mood, self-esteem struggles, relationship patterns, grief, and the effects of past experiences to be heard, to be explored.

And it’s possible to imagine things feeling different. Not perfect, not fixed, just easier. A mind that feels less crowded. Sleep that isn’t full of looping thoughts. A clearer sense of why certain patterns keep showing up in your life, without turning it into self-blame.

A place to put everything down for a moment, so you can start to see yourself, and where you want to go next, with a bit more clarity and calm.

If this speaks to something you recognise in yourself, you’re welcome to get in touch or book an initial session. It’s a chance to see whether this feels like the right space for you, and whether working together makes sense.

Sessions are £70, and you don’t need to have everything worked out before you book, just a sense that you’d like some support with what you’re carrying.

Contact me at

info@susiebatescounselling.co.uk

Counselling

You might be coming with something specific you want help with, such as anxiety that won’t quite settle, low mood, relationship difficulties, grief, or the impact of past experiences that still show up in your life. Or you might simply know that things feel tangled and hard to make sense of on your own, especially when your mind works quickly, deeply, or differently to what’s expected.

Counselling offers you a place to talk things through, think out loud, and understand yourself more clearly, without having to explain or justify how you process the world. The work is shaped to fit you, not the other way around, whether you’re looking for short-term support around something specific or a longer-term space to explore patterns, relationships, and what’s going on underneath the surface, in a way that respects your neurodivergent way of thinking and feeling.

Neurodivergence

Living in a neurotypical world can feel like carrying an invisible load, constantly managing, masking, and second-guessing yourself just to get through the day. This is a space where your way of thinking and experiencing the world is respected. You don’t need to mask, explain, or justify how your brain works. Whether you identify as autistic, have ADHD, dyslexia, or simply feel different to what’s expected, the work is shaped around you. The aim isn’t to change who you are, but to help you understand yourself better and find ways of living that feel more manageable and more like you.

About Me and How I Work

I have a Masters in Psychotherapeutic Practice from UWTSD (Swansea). I offer talking therapy shaped by academic learning frameworks and practices which I am experienced in using and I am always excited to keep up to date with the latest ideas. This means that I can be very flexible in working with you to find the approach that you find most helpful. My approach is person-centred, which means I believe people can and do change and grow. I will support you to find your inner wisdom so you can make decisions that are right for you and your unique situation. As someone with a late diagnosis of ADHD, I understand the impact that can have on reviewing past experiences and the impact this new understanding of self can have on you and your relationships. There is no single or simple solution to meeting your needs . I am a fully qualified and experienced yoga teacher and bring my knowledge around relaxation , visualisation and breathing techniques into my practice when appropriate. Aside from working with ADHD and other Neurodivergent people , I am experienced in, and have spaces for clients looking for, counselling around a broad range of issues including anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, trauma, childhood abuse, relationship difficulties, and bereavement.

What to Expect:

I offer both short and long-term counselling, online, and we can determine what best suits your needs. Counselling is most effective when it’s regular, so I offer weekly or fortnightly appointments. Sometimes clients may return months or years later , for a one -off , or a handful of sessions and that can usually be accommodated too. . We will frequently review progress and decide together how to proceed.

Is Counselling Right for Me?

By examining your thoughts and emotions, you can become clearer about your values, beliefs, and hopes. You can become more aware of habits and behaviors that no longer serve you, and discover your strengths. This newfound awareness can help you move towards change.

Would you like to build a warm and trusting relationship , for your needs to be listened to , and to work out what’s going on in your life at the moment so that it is feeling difficult or stuck. If you feel at that stuck place or unclear and indecisive then I can help you to untangle it and gain some clarity and insight as you turn towards the direction you want to go.

Why Choose Me?

As well as my extensive private work as a counsellor, I have volunteered with West Wales Domestic Abuse Service, Carmarthenshire Counselling Service, and NHS Bereavement Service, as well as working as a secondary school counselor.

I am ADHD and understand the needs of neurodivergent clients, so I welcome this client group.

I am a Registered Member of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy and adhere to their ethical guidelines. I receive regular supervision and keep up to date with learning through reading and courses.

Please feel free to contact me by email.

Take the First Step Today

Change begins with a conversation. Reach out today to schedule an initial consultation and start your journey toward a more fulfilling life. You are not alone, and together, we can find the path that feels right for you.