My name is Samantha McEwan. I am a BACP registered trauma-informed psychotherapist and mental health nurse, with extensive experience providing psychological therapy in Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, and also online for my clients who are further afield.

I help people who feel overwhelmed, stuck, or affected by past experiences or ongoing stress - using trauma-informed CBT and psychotherapy to restore emotional wellbeing.

I have over 25 years experience as a registered mental health nurse which has underpinned and enhanced my psychotherapy practice with high standards of clinical, ethical, and professional practice.

This background and experience has given me a deeper understanding of mental health difficulties and their impact, and expertise and sensitivity in working with people who experience mild through to complex mental health issues, such as trauma. I consider physical health needs, the effects of medication and take a 'whole person', holistic approach.

Therapy with me

Often when difficult experiences affect our health and wellbeing we can lose our sense of control, identity and self-worth, values and purpose - therapy can support reconnection with these.

Some of the issues my clients come to therapy with include: 

• anxiety, panic and worry
• depression
• stress, overwhelm and burnout 
• relationship difficulties 
• people pleasing and boundary difficulties
• long-term health conditions
• low self-esteem or confidence
• binge eating or bulimia 
• childhood trauma such as neglect or abuse 
• complex trauma and PTSD/ cPTSD
• career difficulties, workplace stress, bullying 

My clients experience a supportive, compassionate, and trauma-informed approach. Trauma-informed psychotherapy can help you make sense of what you’re feeling -and why- without judgement or pressure, and in an environment that promotes emotional safety, stability, collaboration and empowerment.

Therapies I integrate depending on individual client needs are:

• CBT-Cognitive Behaviour Therapy
• ACT - Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
• CFT- Compassion Focused Therapy
• DBT- Dialectical Behavioural Therapy skills, 
• Mindfulness Based CBT (adapted for trauma)
• Trauma therapy using systemic, somatic and cognitive processing approaches, and attachment focused therapy
• Schema informed therapy

In therapy I work with my clients to:

• Identify what you'd like to be better or different- what 'better' looks like for you
• Explore and process emotions and past or current experiences that have led to changes in how you think about yourself, life, relationships or work
• Move forward with renewed sense of self, resilience, wellbeing and purpose