Cushla Lahmert

About me

Real Conversation - A way forward

I'll be straight with you: I don't do jargon, and I don't do judgement.

I have spent over 20 years in emergency services, which means I've sat with people on some of the worst days of their lives. It taught me how to stay calm, how to listen properly, and how to tell when someone needs a solution and when they just need someone to stay in the room with them.

Spending most of my life in a farming community including my childhood, where I saw men struggle with depression but often felt the expectation was to keep quiet and get on with it. Reaching out wasn’t always seen as okay, and many carried things on their own. That’s stayed with me and is part of why supporting men’s mental health is one of the areas that matters to me. You don’t have to have the right words, or wait until things fall apart, to ask for support.

My own life has had its share of challenges too. I was adopted, and I went through the messy, emotional, sometimes wonderful process of finding my birth family. If you're carrying questions about where you come from, who you belong to, or how the pieces fit together, I get it in a way that goes beyond the textbook.

I'm also in a blended family, with two children of my own and two stepchildren. So yes, I know what it's like when loyalties get tangled, routines clash, and everyone's trying to find their place at the dinner table. It's hard, it's rewarding, and it's rarely as tidy as it looks from the outside.

People tell me I'm kind, honest, and a really good listener. I won't tell you what to do. It's your story, and my job is to help you work out what feels right for you. I also believe humour has a place in the counselling room. Laughing doesn't mean we're not taking things seriously. Sometimes it's how we get through the heavy stuff.

You won't be a case file here. You'll be a person, and you'll be heard.

Not even sure what you want to talk about, but you know you're stuck? Reach out. We'll figure it out together.

What I Offer

A way forward

You don’t need to have everything figured out before coming to counselling. You might be feeling anxious, overwhelmed, or stuck, navigating grief or change, or finding your relationship harder than it used to be. Whatever brings you here, we can start where you are.

I work with individuals and couples, offering a calm, supportive space where you can talk openly and feel heard. My approach is down to earth and draws on Narrative Therapy, CBT, and Person-Centred Therapy, shaped around what feels helpful for you.

I’ll listen carefully, ask thoughtful questions, and support you to understand what’s happening and find your own way forward. Together, we can explore practical ways to cope, strengthen connection, and build confidence.

I welcome people from all backgrounds and work with respect for your experiences, values, and pace. Confidentiality and its limits are explained clearly, and regular professional supervision helps keep your wellbeing at the centre of my practice.

Frequently Asked Questions

Please reach me at cushlalahmert@gmail.com if you cannot find an answer to your question.

How do I know if counselling is right for me?

You don’t need a perfect reason to start counselling. Often, it begins with a quiet awareness that something in your life needs attention. You might be holding onto hopes for yourself or your relationships, going through a change, or finding it hard to make sense of a loss. At times, there’s a clear issue bringing you in. Other times, it’s just a feeling that things aren’t quite how you’d like them to be. You might know you want something to shift, but not yet know how.

Counselling offers a calm, supportive space to talk things through, understand yourself more fully, and explore what matters to you. There’s no pressure to have everything worked out, just a willingness to begin is enough.

Do I need to have a crisis to come?

Not at all. Counselling can be a space to pause, reflect, and gain clarity before things start to feel overwhelming. Many people choose to come to counselling early, rather than waiting until things reach a crisis point.

Reaching out sooner can help you make sense of what’s going on, develop ways to cope, and stop concerns from building or becoming more difficult over time. It’s also a way of looking after yourself and supporting your wellbeing moving forward.

Counselling is available through scheduled sessions, and I am unable to provide an immediate response or urgent crisis service. If you need emergency or urgent support, please contact your local GP or one of the services below:

· 1737 (call or text)

· Lifeline: 0800 543 354

· Suicide Crisis Helpline: 0508 828 865

In case of an emergency, dial 111 or visit your nearest hospital or emergency department.

How do I get started?

When you get in touch through the contact, I’ll reply and we can have a brief conversation to see whether booking a first session feels like the right next step for you. There’s no pressure to commit, and there’s no cost for this initial contact, it’s simply a chance to explore your options.

If you decide to go ahead, I’ll send you a client information form along with a copy of my counselling agreement. You’re welcome to read and complete these beforehand, or we can go through them together when you come in.

The form includes some basic details such as your name, contact information, and an emergency contact. It also offers space to share a little about what’s bringing you to counselling, what matters to you, and any previous counselling experiences. You can fill in as much or as little as you feel comfortable with, what you choose to share is always up to you.dd an answer to this item.

What does it cost?

$120.00 for individuals

$170.00 for couples

What happens in the first session?

I offer a warm, relational space where you can talk openly and feel heard, without fear of judgement. I see you as a whole person, your values, your experiences, and the strengths you already bring with you all matter in this space.

When we first meet, we’ll spend some time getting to know you, your life, your relationships, and what’s important to you. I find it’s helpful to understand who you are before we focus on what’s brought you in. I draw on Narrative Therapy in my work, holding the view that you are not the problem, the problem is the problem.

As we begin to explore what’s led you to counselling, we’ll look at how this is impacting you, your life, and your relationships, and talk about what you would like to get out of our time together.

You’re always welcome to ask me any questions about me or how I work.

Is everything I say confidential?

Confidentiality is a key part of the counselling relationship. What you share in the room stays there, creating a space where you can speak openly, explore what matters to you, and begin to make sense of your experiences in a safe and supportive way.

The only time confidentiality may need to be broken is if there are concerns about your safety or the safety of someone else. In those situations, I have a responsibility to act to help keep people safe. Wherever possible, I would talk this through with you and work together on what steps to take and who may need to be involved.

As a registered counsellor, I take part in regular supervision as part of my professional practice. This gives me a space to reflect on my work and ensure I’m supporting clients in a safe and ethical way. While I may talk about aspects of my work in supervision, I do not share any information that would identify you.

Testimonials

"Cushla from the start made me feel so at ease, I didnt like the thought of seeing a cousellor but I was really stuck, she helped me find a way to look at my life differently, I even found myself laughing again. I'm so thankful and I would highly recommend her"

John B

"My grief was drowning me, Cushla made it all seem so ok to be feeling the way I was. That made me feel I wasnt losing the plot just lost from suffering so much"

"Cushla from the start made me feel so at ease, I didnt like the thought of seeing a cousellor but I was really stuck, she helped me find a way to look at my life differently, I even found myself laughing again. I'm so thankful and I would highly recommend her"

Jacki

"Recommend Cushla, tough times, some days getting out of bed was a mission, she helped me find my purpose again"

"Cushla from the start made me feel so at ease, I didnt like the thought of seeing a cousellor but I was really stuck, she helped me find a way to look at my life differently, I even found myself laughing again. I'm so thankful and I would highly recommend her"

"Recommend Cushla, tough times, some days getting out of bed was a mission, she helped me find my purpose again"

Anonymous Male

"Really easy to talk to"

"Cushla listened to my rambling, I never felt judged by her, she would often just say a few words that made me stop for a mintue to see things a bit clearer"

"Recommend Cushla, tough times, some days getting out of bed was a mission, she helped me find my purpose again"

Anonymous Male

"Cushla listened to my rambling, I never felt judged by her, she would often just say a few words that made me stop for a mintue to see things a bit clearer"

Sarah

Cushla Lahmert Counsellor

Cushla Lahmert Counsellor

Content

About me

What I offer

Testimonials

Qualifications

FAQs

About me

Real Conversation - A way forward

What I Offer

A way forward

Frequently Asked Questions

Testimonials

"Cushla from the start made me feel so at ease, I didnt like the thought of seeing a cousellor but I was really stuck, she helped me find a way to look at my life differently, I even found myself laughing again. I'm so thankful and I would highly recommend her"

"Cushla from the start made me feel so at ease, I didnt like the thought of seeing a cousellor but I was really stuck, she helped me find a way to look at my life differently, I even found myself laughing again. I'm so thankful and I would highly recommend her"

"Cushla from the start made me feel so at ease, I didnt like the thought of seeing a cousellor but I was really stuck, she helped me find a way to look at my life differently, I even found myself laughing again. I'm so thankful and I would highly recommend her"

"My grief was drowning me, Cushla made it all seem so ok to be feeling the way I was. That made me feel I wasnt losing the plot just lost from suffering so much"

"Cushla from the start made me feel so at ease, I didnt like the thought of seeing a cousellor but I was really stuck, she helped me find a way to look at my life differently, I even found myself laughing again. I'm so thankful and I would highly recommend her"

"Cushla from the start made me feel so at ease, I didnt like the thought of seeing a cousellor but I was really stuck, she helped me find a way to look at my life differently, I even found myself laughing again. I'm so thankful and I would highly recommend her"

"Recommend Cushla, tough times, some days getting out of bed was a mission, she helped me find my purpose again"

"Cushla from the start made me feel so at ease, I didnt like the thought of seeing a cousellor but I was really stuck, she helped me find a way to look at my life differently, I even found myself laughing again. I'm so thankful and I would highly recommend her"

"Recommend Cushla, tough times, some days getting out of bed was a mission, she helped me find my purpose again"

"Really easy to talk to"

"Cushla listened to my rambling, I never felt judged by her, she would often just say a few words that made me stop for a mintue to see things a bit clearer"

"Recommend Cushla, tough times, some days getting out of bed was a mission, she helped me find my purpose again"

"Cushla listened to my rambling, I never felt judged by her, she would often just say a few words that made me stop for a mintue to see things a bit clearer"

"Cushla listened to my rambling, I never felt judged by her, she would often just say a few words that made me stop for a mintue to see things a bit clearer"

"Cushla listened to my rambling, I never felt judged by her, she would often just say a few words that made me stop for a mintue to see things a bit clearer"

Qualifications

Bachelor of Counselling

Bachelor of Health Science (Paramedicene)

Bachelor of Health Science (Paramedicene)

Bachelor of Health Science (Paramedicene)

Bachelor of Health Science (Paramedicene)

Bachelor of Health Science (Paramedicene)

Adult Education Certificate

Bachelor of Health Science (Paramedicene)

Adult Education Certificate

Contact me

Drop me a line!

Links

My Profiles