- Stress and anxiety
- Guilt and shame
- Coping with change
About Susan
Susan Laird is a PACFA counsellor in Australia with 13 years of professional experience. She works with people dealing with stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, and coping with life changes. Her practice also focuses on feelings of abandonment, guilt and shame, and post-traumatic stress.
Susan treats people as the experts of their own stories. She listens to what has happened, and helps people notice the strengths they already have. Sessions are practical and straightforward. Conversations aim to make confusing feelings clearer and more manageable.
Her approach is collaborative. She helps clients name patterns that keep guilt or shame active, and tries out small, concrete steps to shift those patterns. The work can include talking through difficult memories, learning ways to calm the body, and practising different responses to self-critical thoughts.
Susan pays attention to how everyday life affects stress and anxiety. She supports people as they cope with big changes, and with the long tail of past trauma. The focus is on short, useful strategies as well as longer conversations when they are needed.
People who choose Susan typically want practical help carrying difficult emotions. She asks about what has felt most useful so far, and builds on those strengths. To begin, clients complete a short questionnaire and then schedule a first session.
Therapeutic approaches and working online
Evidence-based techniques can be useful for guilt, shame and trauma. One common approach focuses on gradually making difficult memories easier to tell, and pairing that with tools to reduce physical stress. This can help when past events continue to trigger strong emotions. Another approach targets how self-critical thoughts keep shame alive, teaching ways to notice and respond differently to those thoughts so they have less power over daily life.Finding the right fit is part of the work. The therapist will talk with each person about their needs, goals and preferences, and together they will try approaches that suit the situation. This is a collaborative process and adjustments are made as progress is observed and goals change.
The original profile does not list specific online session formats, so please confirm current options before booking. Online sessions can make it easier to fit appointments into a busy week, reduce travel time, and allow for shorter check-ins when that suits a schedule. Therapists who work online can also offer appointments that better match a client’s daily routine while still focusing on practical steps to manage guilt, shame and stress.
Areas of expertise
Additional focus areas
Experience
13+ years
Listed in
Australia
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does she work with?
She works with stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, and coping with life changes, with additional focus on abandonment, guilt and shame and post-traumatic stress.
How does she approach feelings of guilt and shame?
She helps clients name the patterns that keep guilt and shame active and tries practical steps to change those patterns, including talking through memories and shifting self-critical thoughts.
How much experience does she have?
She has 13 years of professional work experience in Australia.
What credential does she hold and where is she based?
She is credentialed with PACFA and practices in Australia.
Can I see her if I live outside Australia?
Sessions are offered in English and she is not currently accepting international clients.
What session formats are available?
The original biography does not list specific session formats; please confirm current session options before booking.
How are fees handled?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be cancelled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger or thinking about harming yourself, use the crisis numbers.