Trauma and PTSD Counselling in Aberdeen

I am Katie Johnston a neurodivergent counsellor, I enjoy working within a pluralistic framework which draws from different modalities to support clients needs and challenges in therapy. Our work together will explore your needs and is not defined by one way of working with at times the need to " think out of the box" and find new ways to approach challenges and sticking points in life.

What if. Two words that send your mind down a well-worn path. Words and images that pop into your head at any moment and no matter how hard you try to push it away you find yourself stuck; thinking, feeling and doing the same thing over and over. Maybe it’s reliving the past, maybe it’s worrying about the future, or feeling you need to do something right now or something bad will happen. “What if” is hard to live with. But when your mind is stuck in the “what if’s” your brain is telling you there is something you need to figure out, something you need to rebalance.

Front Line Workers Specialism: Is the toll of your work grinding you down? Do you experience burnout? Has witnessing death and trauma impacted you in ways which are difficult to describe? Is there a sense of losing who you once were? Witnessing devastation, shift work, mistrust in management, lack of sleep, feeling undervalued, high workloads, poor work culture, relationship difficulties, dynamic stressful working environments and intrusive negative memories all contribute to an ever increasing proportion of emergency service workers suffering from anxiety, depression, PTSD, suicide ideation and suicide. So who helps the helper?

With years of experience working in mental health delivering psychological interventions with the NHS, group therapy in private practice, and social work, I have a depth of knowledge and experience working with people seeking support for stress, anxiety, low mood, PTSD, OCD, panic, worry and thoughts of suicide. I am a LGBTQIA-friendly therapist and provide a non-judgemental service. My background offers me insight into the influence of social as well as psychological factors on individuals and their mental and emotional well-being. I have several years experience of working for a NHS Primary Care Team (Band 7)

Hi, my name is Morag and I thoroughly enjoy supporting individuals and groups through challenging periods using CBT or CFT. I have been in a supportive role for many years from teaching to HR and now and Accredited Therapist. I work online and in person in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire. I really enjoy the collaborative approach that CBT/CFT offers so finding a time to suit us is essential. I also facilitate groups with professional colleagues, again online or in person. I happily work with depression, anxiety, self-esteem, phobias, emotional distress, stress, panic disorder, OCD, PTSD and complex PTSD, grief and ADHD.

We are a team of accredited and highly skilled psychotherapists, delivering remote CBT and Trauma therapy throughout the UK. We provide a range of specialised therapy services, including: • CBT Therapy and integrated psychotherapy • Trauma therapy & EMDR • Sleep/ Insomnia focused therapy from our NHS specialist • BABCP Clinical Supervision for trainees and accredited therapists.

We all deserve both psychological and emotional well-being!   Yet, sometimes ‘life’ grinds us down, we often lose our emotional resources and the psychological tools required to live a healthy and empowering lifestyle. As a counsellor and psychotherapist, my focus is to support individuals through distress and times of crisis.  Whatever your individual situation may be, my aim is to provide you with support in identifying any changes that can positively impact your day-to-day living; whether this be the development of specific skills, a greater understanding of yourself or your feelings.

I've been a counsellor since 2014 and all of who you are is welcome with me. Grounded in person-centred talk therapy I also work with Polyvagal Theory and Internal Family Systems. As we explore how your early years and ongoing life experience may have shaped your self-beliefs and behaviours you can move towards increased strength and resilience.

If you are experiencing difficulties due to: anxiety, stress, depression, difficult relationships, grief, trauma, self-esteem, body image, you may wish a confidential, non-judgmental, and compassionate place where you can express how you feel, work on yourself and find a way forward. You may be looking for a professional who has the skills and expertise to sit, listen, and work with you with a commitment to understand and help you alleviate your emotional suffering and bring about a positive change in your life.

For anxiety and mood problems we can work together for your recovery. Only evidenced approaches are used so that you can be assured that you are doing the right thing. You are important, and so is your recovery. I have been working successfully in mental health recovery for a number of years, including the teaching and training of other therapists. We begin by having a shared understanding of your problem. We work together using techniques that are demonstrated to be successful. Therapy can be either face-to-face or virtual. it's time to make the right move. it's time to move on, and we can do it! The Future Belongs to You.

Life can bring loss, change and many challenges, and it is understandable that at times we might look for support in facing them. I aim to provide a safe confidential space to help you on your journey of self discovery; to enable you to examine your life and make new meaningful choices within it. I offer counselling to adults and young people, meeting face-to-face when COVID regulations permit and by telephone and online, which enables those at a geographic distance to connect with me. I also work for Aberdeen University offering counselling and facilitating psychoeducational workshops to the wider university community.

Does life feel increasingly difficult and you don’t fully understand your reactions? Anxiety, stress and the legacy of trauma take a heavy toll. It can be hard to make headway against the storm. You may be struggling with symptoms such as ruminating thoughts, panic attacks, difficulty focussing and unpleasant bodily symptoms. Anxiety can reach into all areas of our life, including personal and professional relationships. You may want to break free of repeating patterns. The good news is that it's possible to overcome even long-standing issues and reclaim the ability to live life to your fullest potential. There is hope.

Life can be complex and from time to time you may look for someone to journey with you and support you for a while as you find a way to deal with certain challenges and difficulties. You may be dealing with difficult emotions like anxiety, depression, anger or worry which is affecting your peace of mind and happiness and would like to explore new skills, strategies and solutions to get through this. Or perhaps you may be looking for ways to enhance your life, build resilience or deal with life changes and transitions. Maybe you would like to find healing from trauma, or deal with intercultural, racial, or spiritual concerns.

I'm interested to hear what's going on for you on the inside. What is getting in the way of you living life fully? What would it look like to become more of your authentic self? Let’s work together to help you overcome challenges, difficulties, hurts, and unhelpful patterns in your life. I am a Clinical Psychologist, providing caring, evidence-based assessment and therapy with a down-to-earth and values-focused approach. I have over 10 years experience in mental health and rehabilitation. (www.AuthenticPsychology.co.uk for more info)

Hello, My name's Julia. I am a person centred therapist; couselling psychologist, couple’s counsellor and trauma specialist. I trained at the University of East Anglia in 2000 and have worked as a therapist, trainer and supervisor in the UK and overseas. I re-trained at the University of Leiden as a psychologist. For 15 years I was in private practice in the Netherlands and also worked on for a number of international organisations supporting victims of war crimes. Since returning to the UK I have been working as a couple’s couples counsellor with the relationship specialists Relate; at a rape crisis centre and in private practice.

Are you feeling trapped, stuck and finding it difficult to get out of bed in the morning? The daily life feels tasteless and numb to you. You seem to remember who you used to be, but who you are, at this stage, uneasy, emotional, is very foreign to you. On the counselling journey with me, I will explore and assist you to trace down to the rootcauses of these symptoms (e.g. palpitations, panic, low mood, anger), and release the stuck parts in you from the past memories and present experiences.

Are you in a place where things just aren't working for you anymore? Are you ready to take charge of your healing journey? I specialize in working with those struggling with anxiety, perfectionism, people-pleasing, trauma, eating disorders, self-harm, and low self-esteem. I have a special interest in those going through major life transitions, such as university students and expats. My deepest desire is that you feel safe to show up authentically, are supported in your vulnerability, and leave each session equipped with tools to help you accomplish your goals.

Want to find a way forward that works for you? If you are dealing with stress, anxiety, low mood, bereavement, bullying, relationship difficulties, trauma, family issues, lack of self-esteem, current or historic abuse. From time to time everyone struggles and together we can find a way forward that works for you and your life.

There is no question life is stressful - but the good news is that help is available. You do not have to struggle alone. We all need a neutral, non-judgmental person to talk things through with. I believe that knowing you are not alone, and having that safe place to express your fears, or uncover how the past influences you today, is essential for mental health.