All beautiful things carry distinctions of imperfection. Like the broken pottery mended with gold, we are all Kintsugi. Your wounds and healing are a part of your history; A part of who you are. Every beautiful thing is damaged. You are that beauty; we all are.
Bryant McGill
About Me
Who I am as a therapist
I am a down to earth, friendly and grounded individual.
As part of my training to become a therapist I have also had to be in counselling myself, so I understand the experience of this as a client. A key part of counselling success is finding someone you feel comfortable with, feel safe, and with whom you can easily relate and connect.
I strongly believe in the power of self-knowledge and self-awareness. Until we really know ourselves, we are operating unconsciously – unsure as to why we keep repeating the same mistakes and facing the same challenges. We can become our experiences.
Therapy provides us with the space to find the wisdom we already inherently have within us. To help us come back to ourselves. Realising this wisdom is the first part of healing.
I am a member of the BACP which means I belong to a regulatory body for the counselling profession. I adhere to their ethical framework in my work with clients.
You can view my counselling directory profile here:
https://www.counselling-directory.org.uk/counsellors/emily-mcewan
What my experience means for you
Part of therapy is beginning to understand the relationship we have with ourselves.
- Can we hold our own hands in anxiety and comfort ourselves?
- Can we support ourselves?
- Do we have a critical eye and voice always looking over our shoulders or an internal finger shaking that is always saying “you didn’t do that well enough”, “you have failed”?
Sometimes vulnerable feelings dominate us, and we feel helpless to manage our feelings.
I have experience in working with clients to help to explore these questions. For many years I have worked in settings where clients often come to therapy with traumatic histories which present in their current lives in a variety of ways – they may be angry, depressed, anxious, addicted or have diagnosis related to trauma or mental health. They may be repeating the same cycles – often as a way of soothing the pain of the past.
I have worked with women in prison who are struggling to come to terms with the loss of their children - through abortion, miscarriage and separation. With survivors of abusive experiences and who may have diagnosis of PTSD or CPTSD and experience dissociation, overwhelming emotions and flashbacks.
I have worked with clients who struggle to maintain their relationships - who want desperately to move forward and feel connected to others, but who are also held back by fear of rejection and hurt.
My approach is to work with you just as you are and consider the goals for therapy together. I am passionate about making the unconscious conscious and helping you to restore your own sense of power and peace.
I am always grateful for the opportunity and privilege of getting to know you.
Specialist Services
My background in probation means that I have spent a long time in specialist services working with sexual behaviour that has become problematic. I understand the blight of shame that clients can carry around when their sexual behaviour feels out of control. When other areas of life shrink in comparison to the weight of compulsion. Shame is so entirely corrosive and can often be a driver, as well as a result of, compulsive sexual behaviour.
I work with clients and families of clients who are struggling with out of control sexual behaviour. I have worked with clients with a variety of paraphilias and fetishes. I work with those whose behaviour may have spiralled into illegality. I have a lot of experience of working with people whose pornography use has escalated and become problematic. I promise to meet you in this space without judgement. I understand your need for my total confidentiality.
Our work together
The therapeutic relationship is where healing occurs.
We will build a relationship based on mutuality. You will always be the expert in your life and lived experience, alongside one another we can share our different knowledge to make meaning of your experiences and to bring about healing.
I am here to facilitate your empowerment, help you take control of your life, and realise the life that you want to live. I will be a companion on your journey as we walk together.
I hope that through our work, I can honour you and your experiences by providing you with kindness, authenticity, transparency and consistency.
As a therapist, I hold hope for your healing.
Where I work
I have a quiet and peaceful therapy room in a semi rural location for clients who would like to see me face to face. I also offer online and telephone counselling should you prefer.