Hello! I'm Ailie - a therapist and counsellor originally from Glasgow, now based on the Isle of Arran. My previous career was in social research and local community casework for a Member of Parliament.

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It was there that I saw first hand the transformative power of being truly listened to, and how supportive relationships can help foster strength even when life throws it's very worst at us.

 

This understanding has shaped my therapeutic approach and underpins my belief that, regardless of circumstance, adversity does not strip away our potential; it simply reveals the profound inner resources we carry within ourselves. A 'toolbox' of personalised  strategies, coping skills, and physical resources we can use to manage stress, anxiety, and difficult emotions.

 

My own personal mental health journey has taught me that there is always hope, and a tool somewhere in our toolbox (even if it's at the bottom!) that will help us cope and thrive. 

 

I have a particular interest in Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT), an approach within CBT, that supports us to develop greater kindness and understanding toward ourselves and others. There is increasingly more evidenced based research to suggest that compassion is not only a powerful antidote to self-criticism and shame, but also a foundational part of long lasting emotional well-being.

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