Hi, I’m Susanne Gerstmyer
Counsellor and Psychotherapist, author, wife and mum of four.
My working life didn’t start in counselling. I trained in law and arts, and began my career as a lawyer, then moved into a senior executive role. It was demanding, high-stakes work, and I learned a lot about pressure, responsibility, and holding things together under scrutiny.
Then I had my children, and everything shifted. I stepped away from that career path and became a business owner. I know what it’s like to juggle competing demands, carry the load, and keep going while still being the person everyone else depends on.
I also have my own lived experience of mental health challenges, neurodiversity, family breakdown and interpersonal trauma. Whether you’re navigating anxiety, a relationship under strain, grief, or the feeling of holding everything together while quietly struggling, I understand it from the inside, not just from training.
My approach is person-centred, warm, and practical. Counselling begins with feeling genuinely seen and understood in a non-judgemental space where you can explore your experience at a pace that feels right for you.
My practice is attachment-informed, trauma-sensitive, and grounded in evidence-based practice. Rather than a one-size-fits-all framework, I draw on Internal Family Systems (IFS) to gently explore the conflicting parts of you that surface when life feels hard, and Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT) to help you safely process deep emotional patterns. I also integrate Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) for steady, practical tools, alongside creative modalities like art therapy when traditional talk therapy feels stuck.
Some clients want present-focused, practical support to navigate an immediate crisis. Others want to go deeper, untangling generational patterns and earlier experiences still influencing their life today. Both starting points are valid. With training in both counselling and psychotherapy, I work at whichever depth you need, safely and at your pace.
My Approach
Professional Experience
I bring together clinical training, relationship education experience, corporate and legal background, and lived understanding of family life. My background includes supporting children and families through trauma, anxiety, depression and complex challenges at Barnardos Australia. I currently work as a counsellor with NDIS families and as a Relationship Educator with Relationships Australia NSW. Alongside private practice, these roles keep me close to the real, everyday challenges people face.
Qualifications
Graduate Diploma in Counselling, Western Sydney University
Master of Psychotherapy and Counselling, Western Sydney University (expected completion November 2026)
Bachelor of Laws, University of New South Wales
Bachelor of Arts, University of New South Wales
Circle of Security© Parenting Program, Certified Facilitator
Tuning In To Kids® Parenting Program, Certified Facilitator
I am committed to ongoing professional development, reflective practice and regular clinical supervision.
Additional Training
Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT)
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)
Internal Family Systems (IFS)
Systemic Family Therapy
Suicide Intervention (ASIST)
Child and Adolescent Mental Health
Clinical Art and Play Therapy
Author and Advocate
My book, Breaking Free of Busy: A Mum’s Guide to Living with Ease and Confidence, grew out of my own experience of the mental load, the invisible labour, and the feeling of holding everything together while quietly struggling. In writing it, I interviewed hundreds of parents about the practical, mental and emotional challenges of family life.
Values and Faith
My Christian faith shapes the way I show up, with compassion, patience and hope. I believe every person is deeply valued, and I bring that belief into every session. My practice is a safe, respectful, and inclusive space for people of all backgrounds and beliefs.
For clients who wish to incorporate Christian faith or spirituality into their therapeutic journey, I am glad to provide that space, but your comfort, values, and direction always guide our sessions.