Viva Brighton Issue #60 February 2018

INTERVIEW
..........................................
MYbrighton: Sheila Auguste
Relationship counsellor
Are you local? I consider myself to be local
now because I’ve lived here for 20 years, but
I was born and brought up in East London.
I managed bookshops for ten years, then I
moved here in 1997. I’d been thinking that
I wanted to get out of London and one day,
when I was on my way to work, I had this
vision. I saw myself walking along the seafront,
really, really happy. Two weeks later I said to
my friend, ‘I’m moving to Brighton’.
What does your job involve? I’m a psychosexual
therapist as well as a relationship
counsellor. I have a private practice and I also
work at Relate, near Preston Park. I’ve worked
there for over ten years now. I work with a
cross-section of Brighton’s diverse population,
so all sexualities, different ethnicities, all ages,
couples and single people. Helping people
work through their relationship difficulties
is a privilege and very satisfying. Every day is
different, which makes it such a great job.
What led you into that line of work? I’ve
always been really interested in doing therapy.
When I first moved here I kept sending off for
the University prospectus, then Relate had an
open day and that’s what got me started. As a
young person all my friends always told me
their ‘stuff’ and in any job that I’ve done, I’ve
always preferred the one-to-one aspects and
listening. I think it’s always been my thing.
What do you like most about Brighton?
It’s the perfect size for me. You can get around
easily and I’ve found that my friendship
group spans lots of ages and people who do
different things. In London you tend to hang
out with people who do similar things to you.
In Brighton it feels more rounded and it’s
easier to follow your interests. I used to do
horticulture at Stanmer Park (that’s still one
of my favourite places) and I used to sing in
a community choir – Brighton Goes Gospel.
That was a wonderful thing to be a part of.
What would you like to change about the
place? I find it really shocking that we don’t
have the accommodation for homeless people
that we used to have. It seems that the people
who are already suffering the most end up
suffering even more.
What do you do with your time off? I’m a
big reader, I walk a lot and I like to eat. One
of my favourite places at the moment is a pub
across the road from me called The Independent.
On Sundays I like to go to the boot sale
at the Racecourse or the Marina. There used
to be so many second-hand bookshops - there
are far fewer now - but I’m always in and out
of the charity shops. I like public transport,
so I’ll come out of work and think ‘you know
what, I’ll get the 12 and go to Eastbourne’. I’m
always on a bus, listening to an audio book,
watching great scenery go past the window. I
love it.
When did you last swim in the sea? I’m not
a confident swimmer but I am by the sea a lot.
One of my weird habits is that anywhere I go
in Brighton, I have to go via the seafront. I’ll
go out of my way and then cut back in. Why
live in Brighton and not see the sea every day?
I spend a lot of time walking up and down,
listening to waves hit the beach. That’s my
therapy. Interview by Lizzie Lower
07796 161707 / sheilaauguste6@gmail.com
....31....