Jackie McNamara B.A. MBACP

The Consulting Rooms The Connal Building 34 West George Street Glasgow G2 1DA View map	72 Buchlyvie Rd Paisley PA1 3AN View map
0141 882 8040 / 07587145836 Click here to Email me

Profile

I can help you to feel better about yourself and your life.

Maybe you feel angry, depressed or anxious. Or maybe you feel you need some help just to move on in your life. Perhaps you are having relationship difficulties or your self esteem feels low.

I offer a Person Centred approach to therapy, which can help you to look at your problems and difficulties more clearly, and help you find your own solutions.

I believe that this relational style of therapy is very effective in helping people to make positive changes in their lives. As a Person Centred therapist, I believe that at a basic level we know what is right for us. However, sometimes we just lose our way and need a bit of help and support to get back on our path. Talking these things through with someone who understands and accepts what you bring to therapy can be enormously helpful in finding your way through confused feelings and emotions.

I am a qualified counsellor and have many years of experience working with people who are experiencing emotional and practical difficulties.

My own life experiences and personal journey has helped me to develop the insight and awareness which I believe are crucial in an effective counsellor. I consider myself to be a down to earth and practical person and I understand how difficult it can be to face up to and deal with difficult areas of our lives, and things about ourselves which feel frightening or uncomfortable.

I am committed to the Person Centred approach to counselling. I believe that it is only in the true listening to, acceptance and valuing of others, that positive and long term changes can happen in therapy.

Within this valuing relationship, my approach to therapy can be practical, by goal setting if that would be helpful, or using other techniques such as mindfulness or emotion focussing which can be very useful both in `centering` ourselves in helping us to tune in and understand ourselves better. These techniques can be very useful in offering support with anger management, as well as anxiety and depression.

If you feel I could be of help, you can contact me by phone or email to discuss anything further or to arrange an initial half hour consultation. (details below)

I work from home in the Ralston area of Paisley and offer a private, confidential and comfortable setting. (see map below).

I can also see you in Glasgow city centre if that is more convenient for you (see map below).

Training, Qualifications & Experience

I am a fully qualified therapist, with a Post Graduate Diploma in Person Centred Counselling from Strathclyde University.

I have a Bachelor of Arts degree in the social sciences and post graduate qualifications relating to the delivery and management of public services. I have many years of professional experience within the public sector, working with people who are experiencing emotional difficulties such as depression and anxiety and with individuals and families who have experienced bereavement. Within this role, I was committed to influencing change and development in services to ensure that they worked for the people who used them. I left the service because I wanted to work directly with people in a more holistic way by retraining as a Person Centred counsellor.

I have a lot of experience in working with women who have experienced emotional, physical and sexual abuse and an understanding of the particular difficulties associated with this.

Very importantly, I have a lot of life experience and a very empathic and understanding approach to the difficulties which people often face just trying to cope with their lives and their relationships. I believe a good therapist or counsellor is not an `expert` on other people, but someone who understands, through their own experience or listening to others, the difficulties and struggles which all of us face from time to time in our lives.

I also understand how difficult it can be for people to take this step and contact a counsellor. My style and approach will be very much based on what you want and need from counselling, and the pace you are comfortable with. I will help you to explore and discover what is right for you. Many people for instance, come to counselling expressing a sense of loss or confusion about `who they are`. Through expressing and sharing their fears and feelings about this, difficult though this can be, insights and a greater understanding and acceptance of self can happen, sometimes very rapidly. It can be an enormous relief just to be able to speak to someone who understands and can accept these thoughts and feelings.

Areas of counselling I deal with

Therapies Offered

Cognitive and Behavioural Therapies

Behavioural Therapy

Humanistic Therapies

Person-Centred Counselling

Gestalt Therapy

Other Therapies

Integrative

Fees

I charge £35 per 50 minute session and I can negotiate a reduced fee for people who are unwaged or cannot afford to pay this. Please feel free to speak to me about this.

I offer couples counselling at a charge of £40 per hour.

I am more than happy to speak with you on the phone or by email if you have any questions you would like to ask me about my service or about counselling.

I can offer flexibility with appointments, if it suits you to see me in the evenings or weekends.

Further Information

I believe that undertaking counselling is one of the most important decisions and investments we can make in our lives. Often, just one or two sessions can be sufficient to help `turn things around` and feel clearer and stronger.

My committment to you is to offer you a quiet, confidential and safe space to share and explore difficulties and feelings and help you to find a way forward in your life.

Online, email or telephone counselling available

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