Counselling in EH22

Are you struggling with anxiety, low self-esteem, relationship difficulties, grief or other issues? Are you looking for an accepting, and compassionate space to explore what is going on for you? Then you have come to the right place.

I am a CBT therapist and I can help you if you are struggling with depression, anxiety, low self esteem, relationship problems, addictions and many more. Maybe you would like to cope with your emotions better or make decisions more consciously and live with less fear? Maybe you want to be more compassionate or more self- confident, or think about how to reach out for what you consider important and valuable? If you have decided to reach for therapy, it may mean that you are already tired of avoidance and anger, and you feel that you want to look at your problems from a different perspective and learn new skills.

You may be considering therapy to address specific difficulties such as depression, the impact of trauma, or difficulties in relationships with others, or you may have a wish for personal growth. Therapy recognises the importance of our experiences and our relationships or contact with others and our efforts to manage these. It offers the opportunity to gain an understanding of ourselves, of how we think, feel, behaviour & relate (including with ourselves) & consider change. After almost 30 years of working as a therapist in the NHS I moved into independent practice.

I am very pleased to be able to offer a clinical psychology service based in Dalkeith, Midlothian which is high quality, easy and quick to access, and needs-led. I offer individually tailored psychological assessment and therapy for adults aged 18 and above who are experiencing a whole range of psychological difficulties and mental health issues. My specialist areas include psychological trauma of any kind, perinatal mental health issues including birth trauma, and complicated grief. I tend to work in an integrative way using elements of psychodynamic psychotherapy, cognitive analytic therapy and cognitive behaviour therapy.

Anxiety, perfectionism, and self-criticism; this triple combo of hurt can stop us from going after the things we really want in life. We can find ourselves trying to distract ourselves from the uncomfortable fear of failing, opting out of things we want to do out of fear, and getting caught up in thoughts about 'what ifs' and 'maybe' until we feel frozen. Or we might push ourselves to the point of burning out seeking the validation we only find when we achieve something driven by a fear of the day we are not good enough. If your sense of self-worth has become tied to 'doing' rather than simply existing, I may be able to help.

Bu Therapy works with YOU. You are, after all, the expert with what is going on in your life today. Together we will work on areas that might be affecting your life and what you would like to change. CBT therapy looks at the present rather than the past and identifies negative or maladaptive thinking styles that make you see things differently and out of focus. I will work with you in a collaborative manner so we can correct this “blurred view” of life and bring clarity, focus, and direction back into your life, and “together we can come out of the darkness and into the light".

When you encounter difficult times in our day to day lives it is helpful to be able to talk these through with someone who is trained and objective. To help you explore the issues that matter to you, bringing insight and understanding to enable you to find your way through problems and dilemmas.

Are you finding it all too much? Stressed out? Not sure which direction to take? Or maybe you are struggling with isolation or lack of confidence in social situations? Maybe you are dealing with being neuro-diverse (ADHD or autism) in a neuro-typical world? Perhaps you want to be more your authentic self or make a transition in your life? Are you trying to cope with a difficult situation such as grief, loss, illness, caring or a break up? In all these situations I can listen to you, support you and help you to find ways forward.

Taking the first step to contact a therapist is not easy-it is leap into the unknown! So, I take pride in offering an accessible and high quality service for my clients that meets their needs. I draw on my years of experience (22 in the field of mental health, 15 as a qualified Clinical Psychologist) to help you to develop an understanding of the difficulties you are currently facing and how to address these using a personalised approach. I draw on the current best evidence of "what works" and what best fits with you as an individual. My aim is for you to feel understood, supported and empowered to make changes and reach your goals.

If you are suffering from anxiety - depression/low mood - stress - anger problems - panic attacks - phobias - low self-esteem - self-harming - eating disorders - post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD, including military) - addiction (all kinds) - obsessions (OCD) - sleep problems - relationship problems, I can help. Difficulties can often be resolved within only a few sessions – sometimes just one – and in this way can provide good value for money.

I don’t know if you have ever had the opportunity to share your story where someone really listens. I mean really listens, wanting to know you, your story, your ups and downs. Where nothing is off limits. Space to speak what maybe you’ve never spoken before. Sitting in the counsellee seat is not always easy and opening up to someone you do not know can be daunting. I know that taking that first step requires courage and I would love to walk with you on your journey.

I am a Clinical Psychologist with 14 years of post-doctoral experience. I am also CEO and Clinical Director of Brain Brolly. At Brain Brolly, we know about Brains and provide a number of services under our umbrella to protect people and their brains. We offer clinical sessions for children, young people and adults across the ability span. We support mental health difficulties as well as coping with physical health issues and life transitions. We use only evidence based therapies shown to make positive changes for people. We provide support when there are difficulties as well as proactive approaches to build resilience and motivation

Are you looking for some support but not sure where to turn? I believe talking is a really powerful thing. I am really passionate about empowering you to become your own therapist by helping you find coping strategies that work for you and you can use in any situation life brings. Talking to a therapist can be quite daunting. However, I truly believe talking through a problem can really help. I can help you to identify and understand issues you are struggling with and together we can come up with a plan on how to help you overcome these.

Are things just feeling out of kilter? Know something needs to change? Are you unsure what the right support is for your needs? Are you feeling anxious or low mood? Have you lost someone? Has your confidence dropped? In a time like no other, more than ever we need to focus on our mental health and wellbeing and invest in ourselves. The beauty of my practice is recognising your individualisation and tailoring how I can help with your needs through a holistic approach encompassing counselling, CBT, and coaching. We're people, we don't fit into one neat little box! With me you'll have a warm, confidential and safe space to talk.

Having worked in the field of mental health for over 26 years, I have a deep understanding of the challenges people are faced with on a daily basis. How we experience these challenges can become overwhelming and we can feel alone, helpless and disconnected. There may be times when it's useful to seek help outside of your current circle of support by talking with a counsellor and I can help you find new ways to explore and manage the difficulties you are experiencing. I work with individuals & couples to offer short-term counselling to address immediate concerns, and long term counselling to address complex issues.