Hello, and welcome to Samantha McEwan Psychotherapy, Kilmarnock

Hi, my name is Samantha and I'm a trauma informed psychotherapist and mental health nurse with over 25 years experience working in mental health.

Many people who come to therapy with me are experiencing a range of difficulties, including anxiety, low mood, overwhelm, trauma or PTSD, and the impact of these on day-to-day life whether personally, relationally or physically. 

On these pages you can read about how I work and access helpful resources. You can also read some of my client feedback and contact me about therapy.

A safe and approachable space to work things out

My training and clinical background in mental health nursing, and in improving trauma-informed, therapeutic practice, means I’m experienced, and comfortable working with people with complex life histories and experiences that can often feel overwhelming, including long-standing difficulties related to childhood and adult trauma; or the intricate connection between emotional and physical wellbeing. 

My experience has led to me specalising in supporting people who are going through:

Trauma & PTSD/complex PTSD: Safely addressing the impact of adult or childhood traumatic events on mind, body, daily activities and relationship dynamics so that they stop controlling your present life.       

Anxiety, Overwhelm, & Intrusive Thoughts: Help to climb out of the overthinking trap, quit arguing with intrusive thoughts, soothe the inner critic, and balance emotions. Addressing experiences, beliefs or patterns that have kept you stuck in survival mode or difficult situations.

Relationship or communication difficulties, whether in personal relationships or related to stress, bullying, or burnout at work or in unpaid caring roles. Addressing issues important to you, like conflict or boundary issues, and rebuilding your sense of self or values in relationships, work and life.

I also often work with individuals who are neurodivergent and experiencing some of the above issues.

Therapy with me

I offer an active, warm and supportive approach, exploring with my clients what is happening for them at a pace that feels manageable to them. 

I tailor therapy to each person as everyone's experiences and needs are different. 

My focus in therapy goes beyond solely reducing surface symptoms -I work with my clients to safely address the root causes of their difficulties for a deeper and meaningful change, and recovery of overall wellbeing, at a pace that feels comfortable.  

I work together with my clients to find what feels most helpful for them, and utilise wider therapies, including trauma therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, or trauma-sensitive mindfulness and somatic based approaches where evidence based and helpful for their needs.

It's always a real privilege to be alongside each of my clients on their journey. Clients have fed back that they appreciated my caring, active and professional way of working. (See Client Testimonials for some of my client feedback).

"This was my first time speaking with a therapist, and Samantha has been amazing. She really listened to my concerns around confidence and self-worth, and made me feel heard and supported from the start" 

Starting therapy can feel daunting. I always aim to make that first step as simple, comfortable and supportive as possible. 

Some people arrive with a clear sense of what they want to focus on, while others are unsure but know that something does not feel right.

You don't need to have everything worked out before reaching out.

If you'd like to explore working together, please do get in touch. I offer a 20 minute consultation to see whether my way of working is a good fit for you, and answer any questions you might have.

I try to respond to enquiries within one working day, and initially my response is via email. 

"I'm so thankful I connected with Samantha. She is professional, responsive and sensitive, while also knowledgeable and straightforward with me. The way she understands me has been a long-awaited breath of fresh air. She validates my emotions and experiences and works carefully with me to identify patterns and goals".