Suzanne Sinnwell

So nice to meet you! First off, what’s your name? Tell our readers a bit about yourself—where you’re from originally and where you live now.

My name is Suzanne Sinnwell, and I’m originally from Saint Johns, Florida. I attended Florida State University, where I earned my bachelor’s in studio art and my master’s degree in art therapy. After college, I moved to Northern Virginia for several years, but I realized how much I missed home, family, and the sunshine! I eventually made my way back to the area, where I’ve been happy to put down roots again.

Today, my counseling practice is based in Mandarin, where I have the privilege of helping individuals work toward healing and feeling better. When I’m not working, I love laughing, spending time with my family, friends and pets, and am leaning into my middle-age bird obsession.

Tell us one thing you love about where you live now.

Of course, the sunshine and being close to the beach are incredible. But honestly, one of the things I love most is being within 10 minutes of my mom and having that sense of closeness with family, friends, and community. Living far from home, I was reminded how important having community connection and support is to my life.

Tell us a little more about what your company does and how it started. How does it help your customers?

Suzanne Sinnwell Counseling grew out of my passion for helping people heal and my belief that everyone deserves a space where they feel safe, understood, and supported. My interest in this work actually started in high school, when I discovered how art was a powerful way to express emotions. That eventually led me to pursue both my degrees in the areas of art and therapy. Over the past 20 years, I've had the opportunity to work in a variety of settings, including schools, mental health facilities, forensic settings, recovery programs, and private practice. Along the way, I developed my specialization in trauma therapy and understanding how it impacts the way we see ourselves and navigate the world.

Today, my practice focuses on helping individuals work through traumatic experiences, anxiety, and other challenges using approaches such as Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and Internal Family Systems (IFS). My practice also offers therapy intensives (2-6 hour, multi-day sessions), which can accelerate change.

If someone wants to start a business, what advice would you give them?

I love this question because I think one of the biggest lessons in owning a small business is realizing you don't have to do everything yourself. My advice would be to trust yourself, seek support from people who have been there before, and give yourself permission not to know everything. It's important to recognize your strengths but also be honest about the areas where you need help. For me, I know my craft and feel confident in the work I do as a therapist, but bookkeeping and accounting are definitely not my strengths. After many, many mistakes, I accepted I need support and to bring in people who specialize in areas where I need help.

I've been fortunate to find a wonderful community that helps keep my small business running smoothly. You don't have to figure it all out alone. Ask questions, build relationships, accept help, and remember that learning as you go is part of the process.

What is one piece of feedback from a happy customer or client that you won't forget?

Oh, this is such a sweet question, and it makes me smile. I think the best feedback I have received is simply hearing someone say they feel better. When a client tells me they never thought therapy would help, or that they didn't believe healing was possible, it really stays with me.

There is something incredibly special about witnessing that moment when you can see some of the pain begin to lift and relief, hope, and even a little more love for themselves take its place. Getting to be a part of their lives is such a privilege. It's hard to put into words, but those moments remind me exactly why I love what I do.

Where do you see your company in the future?

This is actually a question I ask myself all the time! I’m always tossing around ideas about where I’d like to take the practice next. I’ve thought about expanding, developing more intensive packages, and even incorporating more creative elements, like art, into the work I offer. I think the future of the practice will include more EMDR and IFS intensive packages, along with consultations and opportunities to support other therapists. I love what I do, but I also enjoy being creative and thinking outside the box. I think part of owning a small business is allowing yourself the room to grow, change, and try new things, and I am excited to see where this takes me.

What is the biggest misconception about your industry?

I think one of the biggest misconceptions about therapy is that it doesn't work. I hear people say they've tried therapy before and it didn't help, or that talking about their problems isn't going to change anything. I can absolutely understand that, as I have said that myself before about my own experiences in therapy. Sometimes the therapist or treatment approach isn't the right fit, but once you find the right therapist, healing is absolutely possible.

I have seen people make incredible changes, even when they came in believing things would never get better. I hope people know that healing with a therapist is possible and it doesn't have to be so overwhelming. My clients and I have fun, do meaningful work, and sometimes laugh the whole session.

What has been one of your biggest struggles building your business, and how did you deal with it?

I think one of my biggest struggles has been fear. Fear of whether I'm a good enough therapist, whether I can bring in enough income to support my business and livelihood, and whether I'm going to make some huge mistake along the way. Owning a business comes with a lot of responsibility, and sometimes that responsibility can feel overwhelming.

I've learned to work through that fear by trusting myself, trusting my experience, and asking for help when I need it. I work in an office of other therapists, so some days I will just plop down on their couch and ask for help. We really support each other. Fear still shows up from time to time, but I've gotten better at letting it take a back seat instead of allowing it to drive the decisions I make.

Who was your favorite music artist and athlete growing up?

My favorite music artist is Manchester Orchestra. Their music is just good for my soul. I sometimes get ready for a day of sessions by rocking out to them in my car outside my office. Highly recommend you listen to them!

As for my favorite athlete growing up, it would have to be Shannon Miller. I mean, who didn't love the 1990s Olympic gymnastics team? Those were the days.

Where can our readers learn more about you and your company?

Readers can learn more about Suzanne Sinnwell Counseling at https://www.sscounseling.info/.