New Start Counselling and Psychotherapy
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Lived-experience talk on resilience, identity, and rebuilding after life changes.
Welcome to the speaking arm of New Start Counselling.
I’m Samantha Seymour, Counsellor, Capacity Building Practitioner, drummer, and a woman living with Multiple Sclerosis. I speak about resilience, identity, grief, and reinvention, drawing on lived experience, psychology, and real-world insight.
After receiving a life-changing MS diagnosis in 2020, I was forced to stop, grieve, and completely reimagine my life. What followed was not just adjustment, but growth. Out of that process, I developed what I now call the STAR Method, a practical mindset and human framework for navigating change, loss, illness, and major life transitions.
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How to Stay Mentally Strong Through Life’s Challenges is my signature keynote.
This is a raw, honest, and at times humorous journey through chronic illness, identity loss, and rediscovery. It blends storytelling, psychology, music, and lived experience to show how people can rebuild from exactly where they are.
This is not just a talk about illness or diagnosis.
It’s about navigating any major change with resilience and courage.
Through my story and my return to drumming, I explore how we move from despair to purpose — and how we reclaim our own narrative.
I’ve been there. I’ve done the work. And I believe others can too.
“We all hit storms. But we don’t have to be defined by them.”
The STAR Mindset offers a grounded, real approach to moving through adversity:
S ~ Sitting in the Mud (Grieving). Change hurts. We need permission to grieve when life doesn’t turn out as expected.
T ~ Thoughts. Instead of running, numbing, or avoiding, we learn to sit with our thoughts and emotions. Healing takes time.
A ~ Acceptance. Acceptance doesn’t mean liking what’s happened; it means acknowledging where you are so you can move forward.
R ~ Reinvention (Movement). From here, we ask: How do I rebuild? What matters now? Reinvention is about aligning life with your values, truth, and new reality.
Each talk is flexible and can be tailored to suit the audience. Core themes include:
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Resilience — learning how to move forward when life knocks you sideways
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Reflection — turning adversity into insight and growth
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Empowerment — authenticity, confidence, and emotional strength
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Wellbeing — understanding emotional storms and learning how to ride them
Youth and Schools
In 2026, Diagnosis to Drummer will expand into schools, youth groups, and education settings.
Young people today are navigating anxiety, pressure, identity, and uncertainty. This talk supports emotional literacy and resilience through relatable storytelling and lived experience.
A key segment includes:
“The advice I would give my teenage self” is a piece designed to spark connection, reflection, and hope.
I don’t talk 'at' young people, I talk with them. These sessions are interactive, honest, and grounded in real life.
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Schools, TAFE & education settings
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Youth centres & support programs
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Women’s health events
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Community organisations
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Workplace wellbeing events
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Conferences and forums
If you’re interested in booking a talk or exploring whether this would suit your audience, I’d love to chat. Click the button below
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