My name is Samantha McEwan. I am a BACP registered trauma-sensitive psychotherapist and mental health nurse in Kilmarnock, providing counselling, CBT and related mental health therapies. I have extensive experience supporting adults experiencing difficulties such as anxiety, low mood, trauma, relationship difficulties and other life challenges.

I have over 25 years experience working in NHS mental health, with my clinical background giving me a deep understanding of mental health difficulties and their impact, and a rich expertise and sensitivity in working with people who experience mild through to complex mental health difficulties. I consider physical health needs, the effects of medication and take a 'whole person', holistic approach. I also work with a number of neurodivergent clients and aim to provide a validating and adapted approach to therapy where needed.

Therapy with me

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

• Anxiety, panic and worry
• Depression
• Stress, overwhelm and burnout 
• Relationship and communication difficulties 
• Impact of long-term health conditions
• Low self-esteem or confidence
• Binge eating or bulimia 
• Childhood trauma such as neglect or emotional, physical or sexual abuse 
• Complex trauma and PTSD
• Career difficulties, workplace stress, bullying

My Therapy Approach

Therapies I integrate depending on assessment are:

• Person centred, relational approach
• CBT – Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
  Helps you notice and understand the relationship between your life experiences, thoughts, beliefs, feelings and behaviours. Together, we look for patterns and develop new ways of responding that help you move forward.
• ACT – Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
  Supports making space for difficult thoughts or emotions instead of fighting with them and without letting them take over. ACT can help you reconnect with your personal values and move towards what matters to you.
• CFT – Compassion Focused Therapy
  Works with self-criticism to develop a more compassionate relationship with yourself, and supports moving out of survival or 'flight or fight' mode into a more balanced way of being and living.  
• DBT – Dialectical Behaviour Therapy 
  Improves emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and supports safer, healther and assertive ways of responding in relationships.
• Trauma Therapy 
  Helps you feel safer in your body and mind. It supports your nervous system, helps you process what happened, address beliefs about yourself and recover emotional and personal wellbeing.
• Mindfulness-Based CBT (trauma-adapted)                                                This approach uses trauma informed mindfulness skills to help you feel less overwhelmed or controlled by your thoughts, feelings, or body tension. It helps you to stay present and make choices that feel more in your control.            

Purpose and Action of Therapy

Therapy with me provides a safe, collaborative space to enable:  

• Active exploration and understanding of your patterns of thoughts, emotions, beliefs, behaviours that may be related to previous or current life events or relationships - and how the past influences the present
• Processing and healing from difficult life experiences or trauma  
• Development of insights and skills to address, improve or recover from symptoms of conditions like depression, anxiety, eating problems, and manage stress and emotions
• Development of insights and skills to improve communication, set boundaries, reduce conflict and improve relationships
• Personal empowerment, improved sense of identity, and resilience.