2024 Women to Watch
This year we showcase over 80 South Australian women to watch throughout the year. From business, to careers, arts to science. This year’s selected women highlight the depth and diversity of the women in our state and also the vast array of opportunities to develop a business or career in South Australia. Find our more about our inaugural Women to Watch initiative here.
Welcome to New Start Counselling and Psychotherapy. My name is Samantha (Sam) Seymour and I am passionate about helping people with their Health and Well-being. I believe it is important to be flexible, open, and unbiased within the counselling space as each of us has unique worldviews, values and perceptions of life. I understand that issues of depression, anxiety, grief and loss, C-PTSD (trauma), and relationships can seem daunting but with the right support, women can start to look at these issues differently, understand them fully and find ways of overcoming their impacts. My passion is in working with young people to build esteem, and find and develop their strengths.
I aim to make counselling dynamic and my goal is to meet women where they are along their journey. I am passionate about changing therapy to be dynamic so that everyone benefits from the therapeutic journey. I use different approaches including Narrative Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Solution Focussed Brief Therapy.
// Favourite inspirational quote
“Authenticity is the daily practice of letting go of who we think we’re supposed to be and embracing who we are.” Brene Brown
// Let’s get to know you
I started out studying Psychology when my girls were a year old. I had a passion for helping other people and wanted to know more about how our brains worked as well as the intricacies of why people behave the way they do. I went on to complete my Honours thesis exploring remote Aboriginal Education and even had a paper published.
As my girls got a bit older my role as mum became even more important (not that it wasn’t to start with of course), so I stopped studying and became a full-time mum. I loved my journey and am so blessed that I could be there, hands-on for my girls until they became more independent. It was then time to go back to study and I decided that Counselling was where I wanted to go. I love the idea of a less clinical setting and a more client-focused practice. I completed my Graduate Diploma in Counselling and have never looked back. I left the world of not-for-profit organisations as they did not align with my values and started in my private practice – New Start Counselling and Psychotherapy. I am again so blessed and grateful to have helped so many females in their mental health journeys.
Due to a diagnosis of MS 3 years ago, I had to make some more changes, and I am now in the process of writing a book called ‘Diagnosis to Drummer’ as well as embarking on motivational speaking. I want to share my story and to let people know that through any changes we can be empowered to live our best lives. So excited to be taking this road.
// What makes you a Woman to Watch for 2024?
Three years ago, I was diagnosed with MS and had to navigate my life through a very tough life-changing diagnosis. I have a permanent disability that limits all that I do. However, and this may seem dramatic, I feel like a phoenix rising and have turned my disability into strength, positive change, and empowerment. I started being a drummer, and am now part of a band and perform on stage regularly – not bad for someone who has numbness from the waist down.
I am taking steps away from being a one-on-one Counsellor into motivational speaking and writing a book called ‘Diagnosis to Drummer’ is a passion. My book documents my journey with MS and how I was able to find positivity to start living my best authentic life. I am so proud of myself and so very passionate about this new chapter. I am excited to start sharing my journey with others and hopefully be able to change other people’s lives through my lived experience.
// If you could share one takeaway from your business or career journey, what would it be?
You must do the hard work. If in private practice you do need to front up and be out there promoting yourself. I think this is the hardest part of business and can pose a huge challenge if you aren’t good at networking. SA Woman make it a lot easier to connect though and that has been amazing. Facebook posts and Instagram only go a small way. For the most part, it is the word-of-mouth referrals that get me clients. It all takes hard work and is not for the faint-hearted. But you can do it if you want it badly enough and if you believe in yourself, you can make it happen.
The biggest takeaway and the one point I want all women to take on board is to listen to their bodies. If your body is telling you that you are under stress and burning out, then please believe it. I didn’t listen and I very much believe that it contributed to my body shutting down. You don’t have to sit in anything that isn’t aligned with your values. Please don’t do it because you are worth so much better.
// What would being a Woman to Watch for 2024 mean to you?
It means recognition. I think for a lot of time when you are in private practice and doing it solo it is hard to sit back and be objective in how well you are doing. It feels like a big pat on the back if I was to be an official ‘woman to watch’.
// What would you like to see for the future of South Australian women and girls?
Wow, where do I start? I would like a lot more done around domestic violence. I think we have come a long way but need so much more. I think there needs to be a lot more scope for victims of domestic violence to feel protected and supported in leaving. As someone who lived in domestic violence, it is not easy to take that step and leave. We need to have real-world restrictions on perpetrators so that they cannot intimidate and coerce victims. A lot more needs to be done in the family court about domestic violence but that is a very big topic that I can’t cover in this paragraph.
I would like to see more done in schools around mental health. I think a bit is being done in the way of wellbeing hubs etc. but there needs to be more education around mental health and how we can navigate the numerous issues that come up for our teens. I would love to see girl empowerment groups as a norm and a lot more mentoring. As I write this, I get excited at the prospect of such a thing.
Free Counselling so that everyone can access mental health support. So many women and girls rely on systems that are not working for them. I want to see choice and I want to be able to provide free Counselling in my private practice.
I think we can all help by not being silent. If we have the opportunity to have our say then we need to do that. We have a big community and that means we have such a privilege to stand united on big issues. Support all the way.
Get in touch with Samantha:
LinkedIn: Samantha Seymour
Website: www.newstartcounselling.net.au
Check out all of the incredible Women to Watch for 2024 here as their profiles are uploaded throughout the year.
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