About Me

Hi, I’m Susie and I am a qualified NLP practitioner for young people.

I offer face to face therapy sessions at my private practice in Chiswick Therapy Rooms or online sessions via Zoom.

The common areas that I work on are:

• anxiety
• depression
• phobias and OCD
• building confidence and self esteem
• bullying
• social media and peer pressure
• friendship challenges
• exam stress (from 11+ to A-levels)
• transitioning to secondary school.

The pressure and stress that many youngsters are under these days is unprecedented and I believe that now, more so than ever, it is vital to prioritise their wellbeing above all else.

What is NLP and how can it help young people?

Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP) refers to the language we use inside our minds, using techniques and tools to help us get back in control of our own emotions and feelings.

As a form of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) with several parallels, it can be highly effective in helping young people move away from unhelpful thoughts, behaviour and habits, helping them develop healthier coping strategies.

The goal behind NLP is to teach the child the tools to learn how to manage their own mental health when faced with difficulties.

It can be a very powerful way to overcome mental health challenges from stress, fears, phobias, problems with self esteem, depression and anxiety.

How I work

I offer a free 30 – 50 minute consultation (depending on the age of the child). This time is used to chat about the individual’s challenges and to work out how I can best help them move forward. This is a good opportunity for both the child and the parent/carer to find out more about myself and the way I work with NLP. There is no obligation after this initial meeting as I believe it is most important to make sure the child is comfortable with me, and that I feel I am the right person to help.

I then offer individual counselling type sessions, using a combination of safe and effective therapies that can help young people learn how to control their thoughts, emotions and behaviour.

There is initial talk therapy but thereafter my main goal is to teach the child the tools to manage their own mental health when faced with challenges. This puts them back in the driving seat of their own emotions and feelings.

In order for anyone to feel the true benefits from NLP therapy however, they must be fully committed to trying to work with me to get the best results. The good news is that young people’s minds have not been conditioned from life in the same way that adults have, so results can be achieved more quickly and successfully.

I work on a one-to-one basis with the young person after the initial consultation. This allows them to be more open and express themselves more freely when parents/carers are not present. It also gives me the chance to build up a good rapport with the client and get the best results for them out of the sessions.

My Background

I have worked with young people for 20 years, firstly as a teaching assistant to SEN children before gaining my PGCE qualification as a primary teacher in 2006.

Through my experience as a teacher and through my personal experience as a parent, I decided to specialise in mental health over 7 years ago. I founded a large mental health campaign for YoungMinds, the leading mental health charity for young people in the UK. The ongoing aim of the campaign is to let children and teenagers know that it’s ok to feel however they’re feeling, there’s nothing to be ashamed about and it’s really good to talk.

I also started a business during the pandemic providing online mental health support to business employees. However now I fully specialise in supporting children and teenagers with their mental health as a qualified Neuro Linguistic Programming practitioner.

I am a frequent host and speaker on panels and podcasts on mental health awareness and also work closely as an ambassador for mental health charities, My Black Dog and the Be Free campaign.

I am fully trained in Mental Health First Aid, hold DBS, Safeguarding and Paedeatric First Aid certificates and am an associate member of the Association for Neuro Linguistic Programming.

Is NLP suitable for everyone?

NLP is not always suitable for those with complex mental health problems or severe learning difficulties. I will be open and honest with you if I feel that my skill set is not a good fit for yours/your child’s challenges and will point you in the right direction to find alternative help (usually your GP). Some critics of NLP claim that those with more underlying, serious mental health problems may not be suited to this kind of therapy. If you are concerned that this may apply to you or your child, please consult your GP prior to and if necessary throughout the duration of any work with me. I will sometimes pass my notes to GPs and other professionals when requested to do so and in some cases of concern, may contact your GP on your behalf.

In the interest of positively affecting the wider system that may have influence over a child or families problems, I may make suggestions about how others can support the work I am doing, for example, suggesting to parents new reactions towards old problematic behaviours. This is because NLP largely relates to how one can change themselves, but environment and other people can also influence the rate and ability to achieve success.

The work I do isn’t necessarily right for every young person. It is useful for certain situations and conditions relating to emotions and state of mind. There is evidence that suggests therapy such as NLP can be useful in overcoming phobias, stress, anxiety, depression and to improve confidence and self esteem and it may also reduce the risk of returning to those unwanted emotional states again in the future.

Contact me

I’d love to chat more about how I can help you.

Susie Weaver
MA (Hons), PGCE, NLP4Kids, MHFA, Associate Member of ANLP