Susan McGinnis

I am working online only for the time being.

I am happy to accept self referrals from anyone with a concern about a child or young person.

Self referrals from children and young people are welcome. We will have an initial conversation and decide together the best way to go forward. 

Children and young people have been my therapeutic focus for over 25 years. They have taught me that they don't necessarily need therapy but they might need a dynamic, interactive, warm, attuned and interested relationship with someone who is a therapist. 

I do not offer a 'calm, safe space'. Safe, definitely, but not always calm and certainly not a space but a live person. We talk, tell stories and share understanding in ways that help children grow until they are ready to set off on their own once again. 

See above

If a parent or carer is making the first contact, I speak briefly with them to answer questions and agree terms for providing the service. I then ask to speak initially with the child or young person on the phone so we can talk and get a sense of each other and I can answer any questions before we decide to go ahead and meet online on Zoom. There is no charge for these initial contacts. 

If a child contacts me directly, we speak on the phone initially to talk through next steps. This is in line with UK law on consent for children with capacity. 

I am working online only for now. 

My supervision practice is limited to practitioners working with children and young people.

I provide supervision to practitioners who work with children and young people. I have 30 years' experience as a counsellor, most of those working with this client group, both in school settings and private practice. I was awarded a Certificate in Supervision from the University of Strathclyde in 2013. 

I am Course Coordinator and principle lecturer on the Certificate in Counselling Children and Young People at the University of Strathclyde. My special area of interest and expertise is the law and counselling children. 

I was terrified of my first supervisor and aim never to inspire the same feeling in my supervisees. My supervision practice is ethical and rigorous as well as accepting and open-minded. I have 18 years' experience of counselling in a school setting as well as additional experience of working with children and young people in medical settings and private practice. 

My training is in person-centred therapy so this is primarily my therapeutic language although I have supervisees from other approaches and welcome the dialogue. I have experience with the use of play therapy skills within counselling children and supervise practitioners who work in this way.

I welcome potential supervisees to meet with me at no charge for an initial discussion of up to an hour to see how we fit

I received my Diploma in Counselling from the University of Strathclyde in 1993 and have been practicing since then, focusing my work on children and young people since 1995. I was awarded a Certificate in Supervision from the University of Strathclyde in 2013. I am a COSCA Accredited trainer, a writer and researcher and my special area of interest and expertise is the law and counselling children.

I developed, and am lead lecturer and course coordinator for, the Certificate in Counselling Children and young People at the University of Strathclyde.

I also provide bespoke training for organisations, guest lecture on counselling courses and participate in online events. 

Since the pandemic began I have transferred delivery of our course online and am experienced in online training.