What’s My Story?

Sue West. Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, my latest career which  I’ll be in for the duration.

Did you read The Velveteen Rabbit, by Margery Williams? Or Carl Rogers, humanist psychologist, On Becoming? Or Michelle Obama’s book (or fabulous journal?) All are about my favorite topics, that our lives are about becoming the real version of ourselves. That’s been my journey and I share my advice, wisdom and education through my writing and my photography, as I have learned to slow down (that was a big change!), and pay attention to the details, especially of nature.

My career is about “sitting with clients.” Client services, account executive, manager, troubleshooter in corporate; then starting my professional organizing company, working side by side with clients; onto coaching, and as of 2019, mental health counselor.

My life has been about shedding co-dependency, about unmasking who I was deep down, about being more comfortable in my skin and becoming bolder as I went through life. I’ve had three therapists along the way and still work with someone these days; I believe in counseling when you have the right fit. And I believe in it for people who have many mental health needs, who struggle every day, as well as for those who are working on that unmasking/becoming process of who you are.

Sharing What I Have Learned

In my books, blogs and photography my intent is to share what I have learned, advice,  experience so that it will ideally give you more ways to work on whatever you’re struggles are. With photography, it is interesting to see how people interpret, what they see, and it slows us down, whether taking or looking at a photo, and especially because I photograph the details of life.

I have also shared expertise through presentations, as far away as Japan, to the Life Organisers association and many locally when I had my organizing and coaching business.

One of my best life’s experiences was as Board President for the Institute for Challenging Disorganization because people educated by ICD work with individuals who often have mental health issues, or simply find it difficult for other reasons to “just get organized,” whether with their time or things.  ICD has free fact sheets here, and a research-based ICD® Clutter Quality of Life Scale to learn more about how your “clutter” impacts your sense of home and quality of life.

(c) Susan Fay West

(c) Susan Fay West

Some of my photography. Available for sales in greeting cards, phone covers and more on my site. A few photos are also available on Shutterstock.com

Staying up to Date

I love to learn. I’m curious and enjoy hearing other perspectives.  The credentials are important  so that you know I continue to educate myself, understand ethics, and also that I grow; I want to continually bring this to clients.    

Testimonials for My Approach

Below, I share coaching testimonials to give you a sense of what you will experience in my books. I am no longer coaching but I built coaching questions for you into my books. Coaching and therapy are in different ways about discovering the person you are and the one you’re meant to be – sometimes the same thing and you simply don’t know it yet.