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ABOUT ME - SUZANNE HERRITY

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The path to absolute self-love, self-leadership, and compassion begins with the willingness to honour yourself as a whole and complete human being—with all of your strengths, vulnerabilities, and complexities. Healing does not begin with the idea that we are broken; rather, it begins when we recognise that we are beings who carry both wounds and wisdom, pain and possibility.

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It is through my own lived experience that I have come to this work. My personal journey has shaped not only how I understand healing, but also the way I now walk alongside others on their own unique paths.

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In my mid-twenties, I felt a deep and undeniable call to turn inward—to look at my inner world with honesty and courage, and to begin untangling the patterns, pain, and conditioning that were quietly steering my life. This led me into an exploration of Psychotherapy, Psycho-Spiritual Therapy, and Integrative Therapeutic practices. These approaches became lifelines, helping me navigate my own lived experiences of trauma and offering me the possibility of reclaiming my being—piece by piece, with patience, compassion, and a willingness to meet myself fully.

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Like many people, my story includes chapters of struggle:

  • Anxiety and depression that at times felt overwhelming.

  • Isolation and loneliness, even in the presence of others.

  • The lasting impacts of neglect and abuse, both subtle and overt.

  • Eating distress and body image concerns, which clouded my sense of self-worth.

These experiences shaped me, but they no longer define me. Through years of inner work, I learned how to:

  • Stand in my own power, even when it felt uncomfortable or unfamiliar.

  • Recognise and respect my personal boundaries, which had often been blurred or dismissed.

  • Offer myself care and compassion, especially in moments when self-criticism was louder than self-love.​

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This journey has been anything but easy—but it has been profoundly transformative. It is what allows me to sit with others today—not from a place of theory alone, but from a place of empathy, authenticity, and lived understanding of what it means to struggle, and to heal.

Through my personal healing, I have been able to turn towards the parts of myself that I once rejected, criticised, or ridiculed. I have had to learn what it means to make peace with myself—not from the outside in, but from the inside out—and to do so in a way that is non-pathologising and compassionate.

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I share pieces of my journey because I believe in the power of story and connection. My hope is that by sharing what I have lived and learned, you may feel invited into a deeper connection with yourself and guided towards your own relationship with strength, courage, and self-compassion.

In 2018, I made the decision to go into private practice. This allowed me to weave together everything I had studied and practiced—an integrative approach that includes Psychotherapy, Sound Therapy, Breathwork, Somatic Therapies, Internal Family Systems (IFS, Somatic IFS & Psychedelic IFS), and Transpersonal Therapy. This blending of modalities gives me the flexibility to support people in ways that honour their unique needs, their inner wisdom, and their healing journey.

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My life, like many others, has been marked by both joy and suffering. Trauma and pain have been teachers, showing me the protective strategies I once needed to survive—behaviours and ways of being that shielded me from abandonment, shame, isolation, and neglect. At the same time, I have also been fortunate to follow my passions and creativity, bringing dreams into form through the work that I now offer.

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Through it all, I have learned that compassion, courage, curiosity, and wisdom are not fixed traits—they are ongoing, evolving relationships within myself. They grow as I grow, and they remain the guiding principles of both my personal life and my professional practice.

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My hope for everyone I work alongside is this: that you allow yourself to experience all aspects of who you are—your strengths, your struggles, your light, and your shadow—so that you can walk your own path of absolute self-love, self-leadership, and compassion.

 

Who I Work With

I enjoy supporting people from all walks of life and have a particular interest in working with those who identify with or experience:

  • ADHD, Autism & AuDHD, Neurodiversity

  • Anxiety & Depression

  • Narcissistic Abuse and Recovery

  • Abandonment & Neglect

  • PTSD & Complex PTSD

  • Small Business Owners navigating the pressures of entrepreneurship

  • Therapists, Coaches, and Healers seeking their own support

  • Creatives – artists, dreamers, painters, singers, musicians, writers

  • Spiritual Deep Divers, Healers & Psychonauts

  • Highly Sensitive People

  • Those drawn to a holistic approach to psychotherapy and healing

  • People interested in expanded states of consciousness and psychedelic experiences

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This is the lens through which I offer my work: deeply human, integrative, and rooted in compassion. I don’t believe in a one-size-fits-all approach; instead, I walk beside you, creating space for you to know yourself more fully and to move towards the life that feels true and aligned for you.

​A little more about me personally

Originally from Ireland, moving to Australia was, in many ways, a means for me to step away from familial and cultural pain—burdens I had been carrying within my own system for many years. From a very young age, I placed immense expectations on myself: the belief that less than perfect was not enough. I thought that to be successful in the world, I had to follow a path that didn’t align with who I truly was.

For many years, I lived in a polarised state between the person I longed to be and the person I felt expected to be by the world around me. This inner conflict manifested as toxic shame and guilt, which outwardly appeared as anxiety, depression, perfectionism, self-criticism, and body dissatisfaction. To cope with these overwhelming emotions, I turned to various forms of numbing and regulation, including drugs, alcohol, disordered eating, and behaviours marked by hypo- and hyper-arousal.

In my early 30s, as a single parent, I made the transformative decision to study Counselling and Psychotherapy. This was a pivotal moment: an opportunity to take stock of my life, reflect on who I was, what I wanted, and what I truly valued, and begin the process of reclaiming my own life and integrity. Over the past 2 decades, I have had the privilege to deepen this work, starting with my personal psychotherapy journey—the foundation of my ongoing growth.

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What I Use to Support Myself on My Own Journey

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I believe that therapists are humans too—and that living a healing-oriented life is essential to being an effective, authentic, and ethical practitioner. My own healing work is ongoing, and I integrate a variety of practices to support myself in both my personal life and my professional work.

 

These include:

  • Regular sessions with my own IFS Therapist, IFS Supervisor, and Psychotherapy Supervisor

  • Participation in Holotropic Breathwork modules and workshops

  • Engagement with Ancient Plant Medicines and psychedelics in legal and supportive settings

  • Walking a Druid Path, which nurtures my connection to history, lineage, and ancestors

  • Daily practices including meditation, voice and sound work, energy work, and movement

  • Connection to nature, including daily walks in the forest and other physical exercise

  • Occasional companionship from my two 14-year-old dogs during sessions—they are affectionate and friendly, but if you prefer not to have them present, they understand!​

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These practices allow me to stay grounded, present, and aligned with my own path, which in turn allows me to hold space for others with clarity, compassion, and authenticity.

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If you feel ready to begin your own journey toward self-love, self-leadership, and compassion, I invite you to take the first step. You can use the “Book an Appointment” link to arrange an initial consultation with me.

I also offer a FREE 20-minute, no-obligation phone call before we meet, so you can ask questions, get to know me, and explore whether working together feels right for you.

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Selby, Melbourne, Victoria, 3158

Australia Wide Online 

Melbourne, Sydney,  Brisbane, Perth 

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GMT (+9)

Ph: +61  (0) 437 483 889 

 

info@suzanneherrity.com

© 2023 by Suzanne Herrity all rights reserved

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