COUNSELLING IN LEWES, EAST SUSSEX
Welcome to
Brighter Days Counselling
Affordable counselling to explore your
thoughts, feelings and behaviour patterns,
break free of your barriers
and become the person you want to be.
Testimonials
A WARM HELLO TO YOU!
Are you an individual aged 18+ living in the UK and looking for either short term or long term, easy-to-access affordable counselling?
I offer three ways of counselling:
using video and telephone calls.
In-Person Counselling
therapy rooms in two East Sussex Locations:
within a ten mile radius of Lewes.
I work with people who experience low self esteem, low confidence, relationship issues, loneliness, loss, anxiety, and depression. I work empathically, and in collaboration with my clients to improve their general wellbeing.
I can help you if you are feeling dissatisfied with life to work out who you really are, so you can live with more authenticity.
If you have suffered loss, I can be with you in your pain. When the time is right, I can help you to discover who you are now.
Are you a perfectionist, or a people pleaser? I can help you to learn to minimise your self-criticism, and maximise your self-compassion. I can help you to nurture yourself by creating healthy boundaries and increasing your self care.
With the taboos around mental health it can take a great deal of strength and bravery to reach out. It’s OK to ask for help. You don't have to struggle on your own. Contact me to arrange a free 15 minute consultation.
About Me
My name is Suzie Bright (she/her). I live in Lewes, in East Sussex (near Brighton) with my husband and 2 very special cats. I enjoy nature, sunshine, exploring new places, gardening, animals, and authenticity.
As a fully qualified and insured counsellor I am a registered member of National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society (NCPS), and abide by their code of ethics. Click here to read my NCPS profile. Click on the NCPS logo under my photo on the left to see my membership certificate.
The NCPS register has been accredited by the Professional Standards Authority. The Accredited Register Programme was set up by the Government to improve standards and safety for the benefit of the public. Registration demonstrates my commitment to high standards, to enhancing safety and delivering a better service.
I am a member of the Association for Counselling and Therapy Online (ACTO), the leading organisation for online therapy and online therapists. ACTO promotes, maintains and improves online counselling and psychotherapy as a recognised method of therapeutic delivery within the mental health professions. I am an ACTO Member (Level 1), membership number: 1678.
I have a current Enhanced DBS Certificate.
My Approach
The modality I trained in between 2018-2022, is Transactional Analysis (TA) which is a humanistic therapy all about increasing self awareness, personal growth and change. I will help you to discover conscious and unconscious messages you received during your childhood which formed your personality and life script. I will help you to think about how your life script might be limiting you from flourishing and becoming the person you want to be. You can read more about TA here. I have an approach which is trauma informed, and person centred. I believe that you are the expert of your own life, and I will relate to you equal to equal. You can read more about Person Centered Therapy here. I also like to invite clients to use art and creative methods to aid the therapy.
I am a culturally sensitive counsellor. I understand this to mean having heightened sensitivity to a client’s experience of oppression or discrimination due to their race and ethnicity, their gender, age, sexual orientation, religion/spirituality, socio-economic status and ability status. Please contact me to ask any questions you might have about my familiarity with your specific culture, what you are looking for, as well as whether my way of working aligns with your own needs.
Experience
I opened my private practice (Brighter Days Counselling) in October 2022 after gaining my Counselling Diploma in September 2022.
In June 2023 I started work as a Counsellor at The Bower Tree, which offers low cost therapy to individuals, groups, and families in Sussex.
During my counsellor training I worked for almost 2 years (Jan 2021 - November 2022) as a volunteer counsellor for Frontline Therapist, an online culturally sensitive counselling service for Black and Asian Minority Ethnic individuals and all individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds living in the UK.
Before becoming a Counsellor, my background was working in charities in the third sector with vulnerable and marginalised client groups. I was a Support Worker for 25 years, working with the following groups:
- Vulnerable young people (aged 16 to 25) at risk of homelessness living in supported accommodation projects and in local authority emergency accommodation.
- Children and young people living in care.
- Children and adults with learning disabilities.
Qualifications
The Link Centre, Plumpton, East Sussex.
- Introductory Transactional Analysis 101 Course
The Link Centre, Plumpton, East Sussex.
- Foundation Certificate in Transactional Analysis Theory
The Link Centre, Plumpton, East Sussex.
- 90 hours of Counselling Skills
The Link Centre, Plumpton, East Sussex.
Goldsmiths College, New Cross, London.
CPD
As a Registrant Member of NCS, I undertake a minimum of 30 hours continued professional development per year, as well as undertaking clinical supervision appropriate to the number of clients I am seeing. Click on the button below to see a list of recent training I have completed:
“Trauma is not what happens to you, it’s what happens inside you as a result of what happened to you.”
Dr Gabor Maté
“I'm OK, and so are you.”
Erik Berne
"What is the bravest thing you've ever said?" asked the boy.
"Help" said the horse.
The boy, the mole, the fox and the horse - by Charlie Mackesy
Fees
Free 15 minute online discovery call.
Free 50 minute online or telephone assessment.
Online and Telephone Counselling is £40 per session.
*Discounted rate is £30 per session, available to those on low incomes- read more below.
Walk and Talk Therapy is £40 per session.
In-Person Counselling is £54 per session (4 weeks block payable in advance):
*Discounted Rate: I currently offer discounted online counselling at a rate of £30 per session for those whose total household income** is under £24,999 a year. Evidence is required to qualify. I will need to see 3 months of bank statements for income verification.
You can also get the discounted rate if...
- you are a student living independently.
- you are aged 18-25 living independently.
- you are a previous Frontline Therapist client.
**Total household income is the combined income of your household before tax, including money received in benefits.
Please note:
I ask that if your household income changes at any point during your therapy, please let me know.
Online Counselling
I am a certified online and telephone Counsellor.
For online counselling, it's important that you are in a safe, comfortable, quiet and confidential space where we won’t be interrupted or overheard for the whole 50 minutes. As long as these requirement are met then you can choose a location that works for you. Your environment should be somewhere you are able to fully concentrate and feel as relaxed as possible. This might be in a spare room at home, in your parked car, in your friend’s/ family member’s house, or somewhere outside.
Video calls
Currently my favourite video call provider is Whereby which is GDPR compliant and easy to use. For a video call session the most important thing is that you have a reliable wifi signal either on your mobile phone, tablet, or laptop.
Telephone calls
When possible I prefer to use either WhatsApp or Signal for telephone calls as these apps are end-to-end encrypted, although ordinary calls are fine too. Telephone calls are an option if you feel uneasy about video calls, or if you do not have strong or reliable wifi.
In-Person Counselling in Glynde, East Sussex.
I offer in-person counselling at The Buttery (4 The Old Dairy, Glynde, Lewes, BN8 6SJ) which is owned and operated by Lewes Country Therapy Rooms.
Set on the site of a historic village dairy, this quaint little stand-alone building benefits from plenty of natural light and peaceful views towards Glynde village church.
- Private WC
- Two designated parking bays and additional free on-road parking.
- Easily accessible by train, bus, car or bike.
- Disabled Access
In Person Counselling in Lewes, East Sussex.
I offer in-person counselling at The Old Coach House (Castle Ditch Lane, Lewes, BN7 1YJ) which is owned and operated by Valentine Voice Care, a brand new specialist health centre.
The building is tucked away behind Lewes High Street. You can find it by either walking up Pope's Passage to the left of the Rights of Man pub, or avoiding the High Street by walking along Castle Ditch Lane. It is easily accessible by public transport: 10 minute walk from Lewes train station, and nearest bus stop is Lewes Law Court which is a few minutes walk away. If you are driving then Market Lane Car Park is just a 3 minute walk away, and only costs 80p for 1 hour of parking.
The new therapy treatment room is located on the first floor. It is a warm, calm, and comfortable space, with soundproofing to ensure confidentiality.
Walk and Talk Therapy
Walk and Talk Therapy is counselling outdoors in the fresh air, amongst nature where you can relax and breathe deeply. We will walk together at your pace, according to your abilities and needs, along a pre-planned route. Routes are either circular, or walking on one direction then retracing our steps back to the beginning. There may be opportunities to sit at a bench or on a picnic blanket on the ground.
There are many proven benefits to being outside in nature including reduced anxiety, depression, stress and anger, increased confidence and self esteem. There are also benefits if you are experiencing loss and bereavement, or going through crisis or transitions. In nature there are many metaphors allowing us to work with symbolism, and for you to find solutions and new perspectives.
At your free assessment we will talk about confidentiality, safety elements, and your needs. We will then agree on a public green space to meet. I will prioritise what you are comfortable with and what works for you.
I offer Walk and Talk Therapy in green spaces within a 10 mile radius of Lewes, East Sussex.
If you'd like to know more, here is a good article on Walk and Talk Therapy.
If you have a question or would like to talk this option through then please do get in touch.
Get in touch
Please send me a message using this form if you have any questions about how counselling works, or to arrange a phone call, or initial assessment.
Please check your spam email box as my emails often end up there. Then you can save my name and email address in your contacts list.
You can also call/ text/ whats app me on 07378 372 358 if you would prefer. I am happy to discuss any queries or questions you may have prior to arranging an initial appointment.
Practice Open Times:
- Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays 10am - 8pm.
- Wednesdays 10am- 4pm.
- Fridays 10am - 5pm.
Please be aware that sessions are in process during these times, so I will respond to your enquiry as soon as I am able, usually within a few days.