Susie Birnie

Susie is a qualified integrative counsellor with a background in childcare and early education, which has given her a heartfelt understanding of how early relationships shape our development. She recognises how childhood experiences and societal pressures can influence emotional patterns and reinforce complex relational dynamics. Her own lived experiences have further deepened her empathy and commitment to understanding the intricacies of what it means to be human. These insights led her to the field of counselling, where she brings both professional expertise and personal understanding to support others on their healing journey.

At the heart of Susie’s practice is the belief that healing occurs within safe, connected relationships. She understands how difficult it can be to reach out for support, and so she offers a calm, non-judgmental, and welcoming space where clients can feel at ease, truly seen, and not alone in what they are carrying.
Therapy with Susie is not a one-size-fits-all approach. It is relational, collaborative, creative, and trauma-informed. She integrates mind-body awareness, working with both top-down and bottom-up processes to help clients reconnect with their inner resources and sense of self.

Her integrative approach draws from a wide range of evidence-based therapies and interventions, thoughtfully tailored to each individual’s needs, personality and circumstances. Her work draws on humanistic, psychodynamic and somatic approaches, alongside parts work, attachment theory, inner child healing and sensorimotor psychotherapy. Where helpful, she also incorporates structured, DBT-informed work to support emotional regulation, distress tolerance, self-understanding and navigating relationships.

As an integrative psychotherapeutic counsellor, Susie works professionally with many of the challenges that can come with being human. She has experience supporting people through trauma, domestic abuse, addictions, bereavement and loss, anxiety, depression, relationship difficulties, mental health concerns, ADHD/ADD, OCD and intrusive thoughts, emotional dysregulation, and difficulties associated with EUPD.

Professional Membership

Susie is a registered member of the MBACP, the British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy and works as an independent practitioner. She is committed to upholding the BACP’s ethical framework.