Sue Cook

As soon as I met Sue, I knew she was the counsellor I hoped I would find to help me through a very difficult period in my life. Her empathy, together with a sense of humour allowed me to easily share very personal things. I never felt judged. I felt listened to and more importantly, heard. I gained a greater understanding of my past experiences, which then enabled me to rebuild my confidence once again, and as a result, be finally able to move on positively in my life. Sue, I am incredibly grateful for your support over the years. I know I can always see you again if a situation was to arise,and you will find time to see me. An enormous "Thank you"

I have been seeing Sue for a three years and in that time she has been an excellent supervisor. She brings a wealth of professional and life experience to our meetings, together with a broad knowledge of counselling approaches. She is thoughtful, perceptive and empathic, but what is particularly good for me is that she is also practical and down to earth. Supervision feels friendly, supportive and professional. I am able to speak openly and think honestly about my client work, knowing that I will be listened to carefully and offered useful observations and questions. She is definitely challenging when I need it, but always respectful and encouraging. Her warmth and sense of humour help to create a relaxed atmosphere without us ever losing sight of the seriousness and responsibility of the work. Her room is comfortable and welcoming, and as an added benefit there is usually somewhere to park right outside her building. I would recommend her to anyone looking for an experienced, knowledgeable and approachable supervisor. I usually leave our sessions clearer, reassured and with something helpful to reflect on.

Sue has been my supervisor for about 8 years and she is such a supportive and kind person. She is very responsive and always there for me in times when I need an ear or advice over a dilemma in my private practice. Monthly sessions with Sue are something to look forward to. She is totally reliable and has been my rock throughout. She also has a good sense of humour as well as compassion and a wealth of experience to draw from. I’m so glad I found her.

I have worked with Sue, as my supervisor for 17 years and highly recommend her. She is professional, knowledgeable, approachable and consistently provides a safe, supportive space for reflection and professional growth. Her guidance has been invaluable in helping me navigate complex clinical issues, ethical dilemmas and occasional client complaints with confidence and clarity. She offers the right balance of support and constructive challenge, enabling me to develop both personally and professionally. I greatly value our longstanding supervisory relationship and the positive impact it has had on me and my practice.

If I were to measure the change for the better that has come into my life as a result of time with Sue, it would be the inner assurance that no matter what difficult and bad things have happened to me and however much I have missed out on life, today I am comfortable and at peace in myself. Counselling does not eradicate the past but my hours with Sue have brought me to a place where I can look back honestly and then look forward with optimism. Nobody could help you better through this process than this kind but utterly professional person.

Words are not enough to show how grateful I am for your support and encouragement at a very dark time in my life after a traumatic relationship - and for helping me to achieve and believe in myself. My confidence and self-esteem was pretty much at rock bottom when I first came to see you but I can thankfully say that therapy has taught me to believe in myself and live a happier life. I am now achieving milestones I feared would never happen for me; I have a lovely partner, a beautiful home and I'm expecting a baby. I feel I've come so far and just wanted to say a massive thank you for all your guidance in helping me achieve these things. I always say it to family and friends....therapy really is one of the best things I've ever done!

A little girl and a tiger: these are the ones who have been coming to therapy with me and you for the past two years. Thank you for having enough room for all of us in your heart and in your work. Thank you for helping me hear both of them. Thank you for the tenderness you have shown me over the things that have hurt and the things that I hope for. Thank you for your anger, your kindness, your respect. These are all things that I can say to myself now too but thank you to you, Sue, that this is so. I am so grateful that I have done this work, and that I have done it with you.

I met you for a few sessions about my phobia connected with caterpillars and want you to know that you have made an unbelievable difference to my life! The phobic response has absolutely gone. I have enjoyed gardening, days outside, walked along coastal paths, and walked through the Butterfly House at Bristol Zoo, looking closely at the caterpillars there...all things that were previously totally out of bounds or uncomfortable for me. My overwhelming sense of fear has gone. We also mentioned my difficult relationship with my dad and though we didn't look at this in our sessions, you said a couple of things that have slightly changed my perspective. As a result we have spent Christmas with Dad for the first time in 18 years and while progress is slow I don't feel sad about it any more. I'm very pleased that I met you and grateful for your help. It was only for a few hours and I know it sounds like a cliche, but it really has changed my life: so thank you.

I was so desperate when I sought out Sue...I felt my world would never be the same again. Sue gently guided me through my emotions and feelings and helped me to resolve the issues that were clouding my every thought. I am now emotionally stronger and my relationship issues are improving week by week. Thank you, Sue.

What a journey I've been on with you as my trusted therapist! I cannot put into words how much your help has strengthened me and saved me from making decisions that couldn't be undone. I feel infinitely stronger and capable of so much more now that I can be myself and be proud of it. You are a huge part of how I've reached this point. Thank you.

Once again, many thanks for yesterday. I found you to be very easy to form an empathic relationship with. I felt immediately at ease. I found you to be thoroughly professional, yet casual and humorous. I would have no hesitation recommending you. Or none myself, using your wonderful service when the time comes.

I first met Sue when I stumbled in coping with modern day life. Later I returned to Sue for help in dealing with grief. In our sessions I felt instantly more relaxed in her company - a stranger - than I had been with my friends and family. I felt able to convey how I felt and Sue provided an understanding ear and a warm and helpful approach to helping me. Through her practice, Sue gave me back my freedom in life, and more importantly, made sense of my irrational thinking. Later, in grief, she was there through the darkest time. I am incredibly thankful to Sue and would highly recommend her. What an amazing therapist!

Thank you for helping me through a tricky moment and helping me dig deeper without having to have major outpourings, which I know I did not need right now. Thank you for helping me break through the self-preservation strategies which I surrounded myself with and which are just bad habits and unhelpful patterns that developed over the years. I wish I could come and talk to you every week but for now, this has been so helpful.

I first contacted Sue after realising the negative impact that constant anxiety was having on my life. From the first contact, where Sue answered my email promptly, to setting up our first meeting just a week later, she was able to put me at ease. Little did I know at that first meeting that we would work together for over two years. In that time she showed consistency, patience and understanding while we gradually unwound the conflicts in my life. It was with a heavy heart that I recently ended my time with Sue. I feel she has helped me to embrace life and its challenges so that I can feel fully a part of it and enjoy the times I have with my family and friends. My feelings of self-esteem and self-worth have grown so that I no longer worry what others are thinking of me all the time...instead I am enjoying life to the full. Making that initial step to contact Sue was one of the scariest - and best - things I ever did.

I decided to seek help when I felt I was not coping with a difficult situation too well and was questioning the decisions I was making in life. I wasn't convinced that therapy would help me but had to try something before things got out of control. From my first session with Sue I enjoyed the calm and non-judgemental atmosphere and began to look forward to our meetings. It was an opportunity to say things out loud and feel listened to and understood. It wasn't always easy to discuss my life and feelings with complete honesty but I always left feeling I'd gained some insight I hadn't had before. Sue helped me to believe in myself again and to view my situation from different perspectives, which enabled me to deal with my life in a more controlled way and in my best interests. Sue helped me to break free from some patterns of behaviour that I was completely unaware were influencing my life, which were making me unhappy and lacking in self-esteem. I will continue to recommend Sue to people I care about, knowing what a difference she has made in my life.

A massive thank you for the insight, empathy and understanding at what was an extremely difficult time in my life, and for helping me turn a corner. It wasn't an easy journey but one that was worthwhile. When I first came to you I wasn't sure if it would help or if it would always be that way. However I can safely say I feel so much better and happier and feel I am able to live my life, a happy one. I now face the future stronger and more determined. Thank you again.

Thank you for all your support...showing me it's ok to feel the feelings and helping me grow, both as a person and a professional.