Susan Pollard, NCPS

Susan Pollard is a registered therapeutic counsellor with seven years of practice in the counselling field. She focuses on client-centred support that helps people make practical decisions and move forward in their lives. Her manner is calm and non-judgemental, aimed at creating a welcoming space for honest conversation.

She works collaboratively with each person, treating them as the expert on their own life. Sessions are partnership-based and non-directive, with attention on present experiences while acknowledging how past events still affect the here and now. Susan encourages people to take small, manageable steps toward change.

In therapy she looks at the whole person, including belief systems and self-perceptions. That might mean talking about whether long-held ideas still fit who someone is today. She also explores how social pressures and everyday life connect to the issues brought into sessions.

Susan’s areas of focus include stress, anxiety, relationship concerns, family issues, self-esteem, coping with life changes, addictions, trauma and abuse, grief, intimacy-related issues, anger, career concerns and depression. She also works with topics such as caregiver stress and ageing and geriatric issues.

People from different cultural backgrounds and those feeling isolated or stuck can bring their concerns. Susan aims to support carers as part of her broader practice, listening to the practical and emotional impact that caring can bring.

How client-centred and mindfulness approaches work online

Susan practises client-centred therapy, which means the counsellor follows the person's lead and focuses on understanding their view. This approach helps when someone needs space to talk through feelings, make sense of choices, or decide on next steps.

She also uses mindfulness therapy, which involves simple attention exercises and techniques to help reduce reactivity and bring focus to the present. Mindfulness can be useful for managing anxiety, stress and strong emotions that get in the way of daily life.

Finding the right approach is part of the process. The counsellor will work with each person to test what feels helpful and adapt methods to their goals and preferences. Decisions about techniques are made together, so the work fits practical needs as well as emotional ones.

Practical benefits of online sessions include fitting therapy into a busy week and reducing travel time. Online work can make it easier to have shorter check-ins, avoid needing to be on camera for every session, or choose a quieter time that suits a carer’s schedule. Confirm the current session options before booking to make sure they match your routine.