SERVICES
Since 2015, I have provided clients in the West Lothian area with counselling services to suit their needs. Whether you’re an individual or a local company looking after the well being of their employees my therapy sessions are designed to strengthen your confidence and assist you in the healing process. Mountain Therapy is accessible for all, groups of friends, individuals or companies, i can tailor make packages to suit all your needs. Take a look below at the services I offer, and get in touch with me today.
INDIVIDUAL THERAPY
Counsellors and psychotherapists like myself help people to talk about their feelings, think about their choices, manage behaviours, and make positive changes in their lives.
Why do people attend therapy?
People seek counselling to help them resolve emotional, psychological and relationship issues. They may be experiencing difficult and distressing events in their lives, such as bereavement, divorce, health issues or job concerns. Or they may have more general underlying feelings of anxiety or dissatisfaction with life.
Some clients feel isolated and have no one else to talk to, that said even people with supportive family and friends can find it difficult to talk to them about feeling anxious or depressed. Or they may just find it easier to talk about personal, family or relationship issues with an independent and professional therapist.
What happens in therapy?
Psychotherapy involves a series of informal sessions where the therapist and the client identify problematic behaviors, thoughts and their inevitable negative emotions. Identify clear therapy goals and work collaboratively towards achieving these goals. CBT therapy is a pro active form of therapy that aims to improve mental health. Learn more about CBT on the main toolbar. The sessions are structured and goal orientated. There is no set number of sessions, however the therapist will review the progress of the sessions at regular intervals to ensure the client is moving forward in the therapy process. The sessions take place at a regular, agreed times and in a ‘safe’ private place where the client and therapist will not be overheard or interrupted.
Therapy may involve talking about life events, feelings, emotions, relationships, ways of thinking and patterns of behaviour. The therapist will listen, encourage and empathise, but will also challenge to help the client to see their issues more clearly or in a different way.
Counselling is not about giving advice or opinions, nor is it a friendly chat with a friend. The therapist helps the client to understand themselves better and find their own solutions to resolve or cope with their situation.
MOUNTAIN THERAPY
Having spent a lifetime enjoying a passion for the outdoors, particularity the mountains i felt it was a natural progression to move my therapy outside. I qualified as a Mountain Leader in 2007, sharing my knowledge and experience with others is something that gives me great pleasure especially when combined with psychotherapy. The evidence for the benefits of nature on mental and physical health are numerous. Even just spending 90 minutes of your day outside in a wooded area, there will be a decrease of activity in the part of your brain typically associated with depression. Spending time in the outdoors not only reduces blood pressure, anxiety, boosts the immune system and stimulates the release of dopamine, a chemical that plays an important role in regulating mood.
Mountain therapy workshops are designed to deliver all of the above and much more. They take place in and around the Pentland hills in Edinburgh, sculpted by glaciers and water, then shaped by people over thousands of years, the Pentland hills are a special place for anyone who ventures over them. With spectacular panoramic views across Scotland's capital city and further (Ben Lomond on a clear day) it is a thoroughly enjoyable experience to spend even a short time in this landscape.
I offer a variety of workshops that can be tailored to suit the needs of the client, the two most popular of these workshops are; Relief from Anxiety and relief from Depression, run as separate workshops over a 4 hour period, you will learn evidenced based CBT tools and techniques that will help reduce problematic symptoms and learn coping strategies and skills that you can use over and over again. Each workshops will target a specific problem, they are structured, informative and inclusive and offer the client an amazing opportunity to experience a guided hill walk all at the same time.
The maximum participants in each workshop does not exceed 6, its understandable that being part of a group can be intimidating initially however you are likely to be in the company of like minded people who all share similar stories. The workshops are relaxed, friendly and everyone finishes the day feeling empowered, revived, motivated and connected, these are all the ingredients to a healthy mindset.
Please see events section for more detailed
GROUP THERAPY
Group therapy usually includes 6 to 12 people with a common issue who meet weekly for an hour or so. Most groups are held in person in a space like a community center or hospital.
As the trained therapist i will lead the sessions. There is a set clinical guidelines i follow to deliver particular treatment models, the sessions will structured with a clear goal and outcome identified. During the sessions as a group we will talk with each other and share experiences. The idea of group therapy can facilitate a shared sense of belonging and acceptance of one another (catharsis) whilst working towards the common goal. The principle is based on the healing power of sharing with others, talking through your feelings and experiences in a group can help relieve pain, suffering, guilt and stress.
You may decide to see a therapist on your own and also go to a group, along with using other treatments for anxiety, such as medication.
Confidentiality remains paramount, as it would in one to one sessions, the group will contract at the start of the sessions, within this contract there will be a set of group therapy rules that the group will all have input in creating and agreed to adhered to throughout the group therapy duration.
What to Consider
One of the biggest advantages is that you’ll get support from other people who feel like you do. That can improve your mood and make you feel less alone.
Other people who have started to treat their concerns may inspire you. You might pick up tips or techniques that help you deal with your own situation. Helping problem-solve for your fellow group members can also remind you that you know a lot about managing your own issues, this can prompt you to use those skills in your own life. And group therapy is often less expensive than individual counseling.
If you have concerns about how your group is going, you will always be invited to and welcome to talk privately with the therapist to see if they can change how things are done.