Mrs Sonia Scussel

A conversation with Sonia Scussel

• What led you to choose psychotherapy or counselling as a profession?

  I find it fascinating to understand how our mind works, how the brain develops. I've been in therapy for a few years, and it cleared my mind. I started learning to become a counsellor later in life, initially it was more an extension of my personal journey. I found it illuminating and felt the need to help others in the same way. I started with volunteer jobs in different associations. I realized how lonely many people feel when they struggle with mental health, and how less sometimes is needed to help them. I went back to studying Psychology and Counselling, and now try to support others overcome their struggle and live a meaningful life.

• Which philosophical approaches have influenced your professional development?

  I believe in Self-Compassion and Minfulness, these are very powerful tools. Learning to accept and love yourself is a beautiful journey. Depending on the client needs I also use Person-Centred and Solution Focused approach.

• Which particular aspects of health or the human journey are you interested in?

  Life Transitions, our brain tends to resist to changes, moving country, city, school. Getting married, divorced, becoming a parent, even simple changes can become challenges and promote anxiety, panic attacks, depression.

• What methods do you use?

  My practice is eclectic and I use a wide range of therapy approaches. I encourage my clients to practice Self-Acceptance, Self-Compassion, Mindfulness, this helps to overcome unhelpful thinking patterns and the natural rigidity that follows. My preferred approaches are Person-Centred, Solution Focused and Acceptance and Commitment. I'm aware that every client is unique and has different needs, so, while these are my preferred approaches, I switch to other tools tailoring the therapy to the client needs.

• When do you think the client will start to feel that progress is being made?

  After the first session there is usually a feeling of relief, however the length of therapy depends on the issue, how long the issue has been there, how the client responds and other support available outside therapy. I would say between the 5th and the 10th sessions there is an established sense of well-being, but there might be follow-up sessions needed.

• How has therapy made a difference in your life?

  It increased my self-awareness and ability to feel compassionate toward myself. It gave me the roots I always missed throughout childhood, adolescence and as a young adult. Therapy gave me a different perspective of my past, helped me to learn how to become more mindful and the tools needed to become a better version of myself.
  

• What do you like most about being a therapist?

  Every single time I realize a client doesn't need my help anymore. In that moment I feel so accomplished and grateful for the honour of being part of that journey, I'm amazed by the transformation a human being can have when they move from despair to hopefulness. Witnessing the human ability to flourish, it's an incredible and fulfilling feeling.

• Do you ever have 'bad hair' days?

  Like everyone else. I'm still human and life is not kinder to me than it is to everyone else. Fortunately I now have the tools to understand these moments and the capacity to not feel trapped in them.

• What do you think is the most significant problem we face, in the world today?

  There are countless problems. From a mental health therapist perspective, I feel that there is a lack of mental health education from childhood on. Introducing knowledge of mindfulness, empathy and self-awareness in schools would prepare many children to become grateful and accomplished adults and most likely solve more than one of the problems we are facing.

• Can you share the name of a book, film, song, event or work of art that inspires you?

  Books
  Mindsight and Parenting from the inside out by Daniel J. Siegel
  Self-Compassion by Kristin Neff
  The Gift of Imperfection by Brene Brown