Susan McGarvie - Counsellor Coach - St Francis Bay

Susan McGarvie

Specialist Mindfulness-Based Therapeutic Coach

Susan McGarvie - Counsellor Coach - St Francis Bay

Kenton on Sea and Online

PhD Psychology; MPhil Palliative Care; Hons Psychology; BCur [Psychiatric, Midwifery, Community & General Nursing]

082 574 7556

susanmcgarvie@hotmail.com

www.susanmcgarvie.com

susan-mcgarvie-phd

Kenton-on-Sea, South Africa

Through every stage of our lives, we face challenges, and there are times when adjusting and rising to those challenges may require new resources and skills that we feel we don’t have or can’t access. That is absolutely normal and being able to reach out and ask for help is a really big step toward being able to grow and develop through the trials we face. In my work with clients, I aim to provide a space for mindful self-exploration that will help us to identify patterns and systems that may be keeping you from being able to move forward in a new way, and to identify innate resources that you may not have been aware of.

Who my clients are

Although my clients come from a varied background, I have special interest in working with women, particularly professional women who are looking to develop further or who are struggling with stress-related issues.

My clients come to me for all sorts of reasons such as:

  • Struggling with work and life pressures and stresses
  • Dealing with a difficult diagnosis or the death of a loved one
  • Relationship issues
  • Anxiety
  • Feeling stuck
  • Wanting to make proactive changes

My Approach

My approach is holistic and evidence-based and incorporates findings from my own research over the last 20 years as well as the plethora of research regarding person-centred, somatic mindfulness-based, positive psychology, and coaching psychology practices. In particular, the findings from my PhD research into mindfulness as a means to improve wellbeing, feature strongly in my work with clients. 

In addition, my approach is based on the vast and growing body of research that has found that much of our everyday suffering is unnecessary and is produced by unconscious beliefs and patterns that are irrelevant, untrue or out of date. Mindfulness-based therapy is designed to bring these limiting or inaccurate ideas into conscious awareness through a process of assisted self-study and self-discovery. This approach is not about talking about your problems or about your history. This is not to say we don’t address these; we do, because they are expressed in the way you do things now – in your habits, your style, your behavioural characteristics, and in how you’re experiencing this moment. 

However, these are addressed through a collaborative, somatic facilitation process, where we pay attention to what is arising in the session and bring mindful awareness to your beliefs, memories, habits, emotions and behaviours. Once you are conscious of these, you can examine them and have some choice about changing them into ones that allow for more satisfying ways of living and being in relationship.

You can learn more about my approach at: https://www.susanmcgarvie.com/aboutme/

My Experience & Qualifications

Before starting my private practice, I spent the best part of 20 years working in various areas of the healthcare, NPO and academic sectors. My positions involved counselling, coaching, consulting, strategic leadership, and training and development at various organisational levels. I have completed an MPhil [Palliative Care] and a PhD [Psychology]. My PhD, which I did through the Psychology department at Rhodes University, was titled: Attentive Amelioration: Developing and Evaluating an Applied Mindfulness Programme for Psychologists. This research involved the design, development and evaluation of a mindfulness-based, blended coaching and e-learning programme for healthcare practitioners and has established a holistic and person-centred approach to address stress and burnout in healthcare professionals. Additional qualifications include a BCur [Psychiatry, Midwifery, Community & General Nursing], an Honours Degree in Psychology, a Post-Graduate Business Management qualification and various other short courses related to coaching, counselling and care in general.

You can learn more about my qualifications and experience at:
https://www.susanmcgarvie.com/aboutme/
www.linkedin.com/in/susan-mcgarvie-phd-62669130

My Focus Areas

My therapeutic focus areas include, but are not limited to:

  • stress management
  • anxiety management
  • palliative & bereavement care
  • personal growth & life-stage transition support
  • relational issues
  • retirement support & adapting to ageing
  • leadership development & support

My Services

I provide the following services:

  • 1-1 Sessions [in person or online depending on your location and preference]
  • Workshops
  • Webinars

Have a look at my website for more detail regarding my services: https://www.susanmcgarvie.com/services/
Practice Number:
0692670
ASCHP Number:
SWC22/1601