Meet Susanne

Susanne Nawratil is one of three new therapists who have recently joined WLAC.

I am a local volunteer fundraiser and I met Susanne in Ravenscourt Park on a lovely sunny afternoon to find out more about what had brought her to work for the charity and to share some of her initial impressions.

Susanne has an impressive array of academic qualifications and brings extensive experience as a counsellor. Susanne says that knew from quite a young age that she wanted to train as a therapist because she had seen for herself the benefits that it can have. After studying Psychology at York University, she trained at the Tavistock Clinic in London before completing a PGCE in Primary Education and a series of post graduate courses and qualifying as a child and adolescent psychotherapist (registered with both BACP and UKCP). She has worked as a Special Needs teacher, a Play Specialist at Great Ormond Street Hospital, a teacher/mentor for excluded pupils and since 2013 as a School Project Manager and Counsellor for Place2 Be, a schools-based counselling charity.

Susanne has spent much of her adult life in West London and feels a strong connection with the local area. She believes strongly in early intervention and says that the more families and parents she works with, the more determined she has become about trying to make a difference as early as possible in a child’s life. Her training and counselling experience have shown her that even a little help early on can have beneficial impact on a child’s future outcome and prevent or mitigate present and future problems. She thinks that schools are one of the best places to help children because it is where they spend most of their time and it is where many children, who would not otherwise have been noticed, can be reached out to.

Since joining WLAC last September, Susanne has mostly been working with children, adolescents and adults on a 1:1 basis. She says that it is common for clients to be hesitant or unsure when they come for therapy. Just this week, a young teenager told her that she didn’t want to come. Susanne says she thanked her for her honesty. She says that it is important to recognise that so much gets done ‘to’ children and young people. Many clients need the space and support to develop their sense of ‘agency’; the feeling of control over actions and their consequences.

Susanne usually begins by asking new clients what they are hoping for and what their goals are. She believes that a systemic approach is the most logical and effective way of helping children with mental health issues as in the end, the professionals and family who are involved all have the same objective; helping the child. She says that one of the many things that attracted her to working at WLAC is that WLAC puts the child at the centre of any intervention.

Susanne explained how some issues such as domestic violence, abuse and displacement (e.g. due to war) are very common amongst her clients but that each client’s story and particular set of challenges are unique. Some clients start by minimising the trauma they have experienced, for example by saying that ‘everyone has it hard’. Some feel that the whole world is against them. Many describe feeling numbed and disconnected. Often counselling sessions are the first time they have been listened to or even listened to themselves. Susanne explained that acknowledging the scale of the difficulties they have faced and are facing can be a significant initial step. As therapy gets underway, she explains that she goes from ‘hardly being able to see the person in front of her’ to seeing sparks of colour and positivity. One of the most encouraging signs is when the adults that she works with tell her that therapy has enabled them to start re-connecting with their children.

Susanne has a busy full-time week seeing clients at WLAC offices on Gertrude Street and by telephone or online from home. On Mondays she provides 1:1 support for pupils from Westside School in Hammersmith. Westside School is an alternative provision school which meets the needs of children who would traditionally struggle in mainstream education.

On Tuesday afternoons, she co-facilitates one of our ‘Mighty Me’ Groups at Ashburnham Community School. This primary school near the World’s End Estate in Fulham has 210 pupils of which 55% are eligible for free school meals.

Every Wednesday, Susanne facilitates ‘Cameo’ (formerly Jigsaw) which is WLAC’s under-five’s therapeutic parent/child group. Susanne commented on how useful this group can be for clients that she sees on a 1:1 basis. For example, one of her clients suffers from acute anxiety and very rarely leaves home but felt able to attend Cameo with her child once she knew that Susanne would be there every week. We are looking for volunteer Stay and Play Assistants at Cameo, if you are interested please click here to find out more.

Susanne spoke warmly about WLAC, the support that members of the team give each other and how she feels lucky to have joined. We are lucky to have her and so are the children and families that she is working with. Thank you for supporting us to make this possible. Susanne kindly agreed to attend one of our fundraising events in the near future so hopefully you will also meet her soon.