As an Integrative CBT and EMDR Therapist, I work with an array mental health disorders and have experience working with addiction, depression, anxiety, OCD, POCD, stress, phobias, abuse, self-worth, self-esteem and self-confidence. I have a particular interest in working with trauma and am currently seeking to specialise in working with children.
My current clients are aged between 8 and 85, and have a range of reasons for seeking therapy, from sex addiction, low self-esteem, relationship issues, autism, death anxiety, alcohol dependency and work stress.
I have a wealth of life-skills and have been actively involved in business management for over 20 years; with a focus on motivation and mentoring. Within our relationship, you can expect from me a non-judgemental attitude, compassion and understanding with a level of challenge coordinated to help encourage meaningful change.
I am aware and welcoming towards the LGBTQIA communities and promise a respectful and non-judgemental attitude.
As with all therapists, I engage in monthly supervision to help enhance and regulate my practice, and am a qualified clinical supervisor also.
I am an accredited member of the BABCP, the BACP, and hold practitioner status with COSCA; and work and abide by the Ethical frameworks therein. I am fully insured to practice and am enrolled with Disclosure Scotland’s PVG Scheme. All certificates, insurances and qualifications are always available to my clients.
I currently work from Stonehouse in Lanarkshire and Glasgow. Home visits and telephone counselling are available on request.
Empathy Rooms is a place where young people and adults can come and seek help in an environment which is Genuine, Understanding, Empathic and Confidential.
Throughout life, everyone is open to experiencing difficulties which may result in stress, anxiety or depression. At Empathy Rooms we pride ourselves on delivering a level of care which strives to promote better mental health through the process of discovery and change, whilst using evidence-based interventions and methods tailored individually to improve your quality of life.
I offer a free 15 minute phone consultation which is useful if you’d like to have a brief chat about your reasons for entering therapy prior to making any financial commitment. The consultation is informal and no personal details will be recorded. This is often useful if you’d like to talk about your child or a family member who’d like to engage in therapy. On the Empathy Rooms website, you can also complete a referral request which will prompt a phone call for further communication.
I can accept clients via the following Insurance Companies:
Aviva
AXA PPP
Vitality Health
Aetna Global Benefits
Our first session together and thereafter:
To help provide an indication of what therapy would be like, below is a brief outline of how our work together could look based on a 12 session model, but it’s important to note that each client is unique and the amount of sessions vary; however; with all clients, there are typically 3 stages to therapy which include the Beginning, Middle & End.
Session One:
Our first session would involve a comprehensive assessment. This is designed to understand your reasons for entering therapy and your goals. Between us, we will gather key information which can help us work together in formulating a path for treatment. For many clients, this is often the first time in which they’ve been able to discuss a problem or issue openly, and can often be a very emotional experience. In this regard, be assured that you will be in a safe and confidential environment where you’re pace will be honoured and respected at all times.
Session Two-Four
The following 3 sessions will be considered as the beginning stage of therapy. This may involve detailed exploration of life-events, childhood experiences and relationships as well as current life situations which cause discomfort and upset. We will look at the coping mechanisms you currently use, as well as testing out alternative strategies which can help improve how you think, feel or behave.
Sessions Five-Nine
In the middle sessions we will endeavour to be solution focused and goal orientated. By now I hope that we will have formed a meaningful relationship which allows us to continue exploring whilst being able to take a step back and view the problems/issues from an alternative perspective. This isn’t always easy, and there’s no magic wand, but together, there are a whole host of interventions and methods which we can try out together to help provide insight, understanding and change.
Session Ten-Twelve
Our time together may now be coming towards an ending. Depending on the level and intensity of the work, you’re increased understanding and shift in perspective may have provided you the space to make the changes you desire and reach the goals we established early on. This is well within reason, and may have happen long before we get to the twelfth session, but there is also the chance that more sessions are required depending on the unique situation of each client. There is no set duration for therapy, but we will always establish review points, and the client can leave therapy at any stage. It’s my strong believe that the client is the expert of their own live, and as such they will know what is right for them. If our time together has reached its conclusion, then we will review the changes and goals, exchange feedback and consider a change plan which you can keep and use for reflection as you employ the new you moving forward.
During therapy, we may try out a wide range of interventions and methods to help gain the changes and goals you desire, these may include, but will not be limited to:
Talking – Listening – Role Play – Psychoeducation – Drawing – Writing – Reading – Visualisation – Relaxation – Breathing Techniques – Mastery – Homework & Behavioural Experiments.
You will never have to engage in anything which you don’t want to do, but sometimes, it’s useful to try out and explore methods which cause anxiety or provoke discomfort in order to see it present in the therapy room to gain understanding and learning which can help reduce or dissolve the discomfort.
