About me
Welcome to my page, I wonder what has brought you?
My experience began and continues 25 years ago, initially embarking upon counselling training as a result of a life changing event and confronted by a very stiff and prescriptive model of ‘being a therapist’, I have evolved and developed the courage to dare to venture into the space with my clients to attempt to whisper the soundless words of 'nameless dread' seeping from the wounds of early experiences and maybe later experiences encountered in situations of powerlessness and vulnerability? Words and feelings that will no longer remain silent but need to be heard and witnessed by lifting the lid of Pandora’s Box of secrets so very gently.
My approach today as an integrative/existential psychotherapist working with individuals seeking greater clarity, meaning, and authenticity in their lives. My approach is grounded in the belief that emotional distress often arises from a sense of being lost and not fitting in, a deep sense of being different to others and at odds with one's surroundings. Questions arising from childhood conditioning and early life experience that may have warped our ideas and views about our identity and an inability to fulfil potential, 'I didn't have the right map?'
Rather than focusing solely on symptoms, I offer a collaborative space to co-create an exploration of your lived experience—how you relate to yourself, others, and the world around you. Together, we examine patterns, choices, and challenges with curiosity and honesty, supporting you in facing uncertainty, anxiety ie ‘life on life’s terms’ and to seek change and develop greater resilience and self-understanding going forward.
I work with clients experiencing anxiety, depression, 'no way out situations as perceived', life transitions, loss/grief, identity concerns and feelings of disconnection or stagnation, all manner of challenges impacting on the ‘Human Condition’. My style is thoughtful, compassionate, and non-judgmental, emphasizing dialogue, reflection, and personal agency.
Sometimes we need a hand to navigate life's unmanageability, as Sigmund Freud suggested therapy is 'a talking cure', there is nothing to lose and everything to gain, sharing can take the power out of situations that may be baffling and painful right now and take on new perspectives.
How to relate?
During the recent past with the advances in technology and social media society has changed how our lives are viewed and also, how we, as people, interact with each other. The need to find ever more creative ways to negotiate and adapt to a new and evolving way of living, work life and communication in order to survive and meet such challenges further aggravated by the extreme pressures and divides arising from societal inequality.
Such drastic and uninvited change is manifesting in increased anxiety affecting one's whole being, physically, mentally and emotionally - a sense of impossibility which runs through Samuel Becket's plays, 'I can't go on - I must go on'!, but how, where are the answers?.
Self-care is really essential in order to keep on keeping on, this too shall pass just not sure when?. How does one manage such life changing situations without familial support systems in place, intolerable anxiety, children who have lost out on education. Husbands, wives and partners at home or not, the choice of home or office, ongoing adjustments having shed our Covid masks, what is laid bare or struggles to remain hidden behind other masks?
Fear and anxiety a 'virus in itself' that is contagious, seen in panic buying - a survival mechanism, there are many other maladaptive ways to seek a sense of 'control' in the situation or absenting oneself, drinking too much or trying to understand a partner's addiction - my specialism.
There are tools at hand to manage 'self' in challenging situations as impossible as this may seem, for example coming back to the 'now taking each moment as it comes - now at a time', maximum one day at a time, thoughts and feelings - come and go, like clouds in the sky. Not so simple? but change is possible, developing different routines exploring new ways of being, the key is willingness, alongside increasing mindfulness and self-care.
Crazy as it may sound, but maybe helpful? How to turn 'a not so good' situation into an 'opportunity?' Take a risk to think and begin to communicate/relate on a deeper level, do we dare to verbalise our innermost fears and anxieties to those closest to us, often the most difficult ones to be vulnerable with?. It begins with 'self' but not alone, being heard and validated is the first step towards a free-er future.
Society has moved quite a way but not far enough, especially for our boys and men of all ages, let's take a risk, mention life and death and the difficulties in just living, let's try and give air time to those unspeakable thoughts, those even of non-living, it is possible that emotional pain eases, it has been my experience, just like a pressure cooker the steam builds up release brings relief! Would you like something to change but cannot see the "how"?, Let's Talk, I'm here not going anywhere!.
I am interested - I can be your witness, a completely confidential service bound by the UKCP Code of Ethics and Framework for Best Practice. I am a registered member of the UKCP (United Kingdom Council of Psychotherapy). I am also accredited by the BACP, (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy). Counselling offers the opportunity to explore aspects of your life that may be confusing, challenging or unsatisfactory in order to seek and identify options for "change".
Over time I have become increasingly concerned by the growing epidemic of mental health problems and increasingly passionate about facilitating a space to effect change by educating people, breaking down taboos and opening up conversations about mental health.
With the expertise acquired from counselling training a Diploma in Integrative Counselling followed by a Masters degree in Psychoanalytic Studies plus ongoing personal/professional development by studying Existential Psychotherapy and Counselling with a research interest in male suicide and male sexual abuse. I aim to gather as many "tools" possible to apply to thinking together in order to co-create meanings for your life plus I am fascinated by the many and varied facets of "the human condition, your human condition !".
Working to foster a positive therapeutic relationship "a working alliance", an experience that can be taken forward to improve relationships with significant others having discovered the all important "relationship with self - it's an inside job". It works, it really does, give it a go you have nothing to lose and everything to gain!.
The search for the "right therapist" can be a daunting experience please do not hesitate to make contact via email or telephone in order to assist you in this process, I have plenty of time to talk and to answer any questions you may have.
I look forward.......................................
Thank you for reading my page.
Training, qualifications & experience
My experience is broad from working with children experiencing emotional difficulties in schools through play therapy to working with complex family issues in a Family Learning Centre in South East London. My 1-1 experience with adults and adolescents includes presenting issues of all manner of physical illness (symptoms), meaning, what might be manifesting physically that could have an emotional root? Anxiety, underpins our very being - existential angst, really heightened at this time of climate change and global unrest..
How do you attempt to manage your anxiety? do you try to control your environment and those around you in order to give yourself a sense of peace? do you engage in "rituals" OCD to achieve a sense of order? Addictive patterns of behaviour, drinking a little too much/much too much, chaotic eating patterns, exercise, gambling or porn, fetishes? Are you a "survivor" of sexual abuse and domestic violence, all part of my current practice and ongoing and ever developing professional experience. Of particular interest for me at this time are, "Male Issues", are you a "Man in Crisis?", not sure who you are, where you are going, confusion with gender, relationships, on-line dating - all a minefield in the quest for a meaning and purpose for life and connections that remain elusive?
“Emotions” and how to manage them? anxiety, anger, disappointment, frustration, sadness, such feelings that play havoc with the ability to think clearly at times! “Trauma” and just what that means to you in your life, loss whether death of a loved one, loss of opportunity, loss in the lack of emotional intimacy in relationships as a result of being sent away to school “Boarding School Syndrome”, the hidden losses in life that may be affecting your ability to achieve fulfilment in the “here and now”, pick up the phone, start living in the solution rather than the problem, there is a way forward. It has been and is my experience.
I continue to research the incidence of male suicide, thinking about "the other side of despair and just how to reach this other side" ? Prompted by the high male suicide rate at this time and suicidal ideation, "what do you need?", what could make a difference for you and how to discover those illusive joyful moments towards finding meaning for your life rather than ending it? Maybe we can talk about it.
Specialisms, addictions - alcoholism, addictive patterns of behaviour, complex PTSD, health anxiety, suicidal ideation, psychological abuse whether verbal or physical, social anxiety, difficulties in relating with others ie relationships!.
Advanced Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling, MA (Psychoanalytic Studies) , Goldsmiths College, University of London. PG Dip.. Existential Counselling and Psychotherapy, Doctorate research, male suicide. Middlesex University. Art Therapy, Goldsmiths College. Diploma in CBT. Supervision Training with Society of Analytical Psychotherapy. Couples Counselling, The Tavistock Centre for Couple Relationships. Systemic Family and Couples Counselling Training with Portman and Tavistock NHS. I continue ongoing professional development training with specialist seminars 2001-2025 at NScience, Anna Freud Centre, New School of Counselling and Psychotherapy, TCCR. Jungian analysis currently Society of Analytical Psychotherapy and Forensic assessment with Tavistock and Portman NHS. Mandatory clinical supervision with Professor Ernesto Spinelli and Dr Betty Canon.
Of recent interest to me has been a course run by The Tavistock Institute of Psychology ‘Foundations in psychodynamic approaches to risk and complexity of trauma’ with the aim of enhancing my clinical skills in relation to a challenging and rewarding area of forensic work. This created a platform for further training in Trauma and the intergenerational transmission of its effects which has been somewhat minimised within psychoanalysis for many years. Over the past few decades psychoanalysis has corrected that and steadily has been theorising about trauma transmissions affecting multiple generations.
Such thinking has informed how the original literature, based on the Holocaust and its effect on the second and third generations. This has lent itself to exploring other histories of trauma: genocide, racial persecution, war and slavery?
These histories are, in many cases, unprocessed and unmourned remaining open wounds passing from one generation to the next in search of recognition and repair. The violence of trauma fractures someone’s experience of being in the world and pulls at the fabric of attachment, our intrinsic way of feeling safe.
This unconscious history can transmit resilience, resourcefulness, and care for the other. As we are living in a time of chaos and uncertainty, we understand that the violence of trauma fractures our experience of being in the world; it ruptures human bonds and damages the fabric of attachment.
But all too often, the here-and-now is inscribed with darker transmissions: hopelessness, terror, despair, hostility towards the Other. Repairing history means knowing, and mourning, our unknown histories, and the histories of others. A great deal of ‘food for thought ?’, what am I carrying emotionally that may belong to my forbear(s)?.
I am reminded by Jean-Paul Sartre "that Hell is other people!", not easy being in the world and relating with others?
Member organisations
school Registered / Accredited
Being registered/accredited with a professional body means an individual must have achieved a substantial level of training and experience approved by their member organisation.
BACP is one of the UK’s leading professional bodies for counselling and psychotherapy with around 60,000 members. The Association has several different categories of membership, including Student Member, Individual Member, Registered Member MBACP, Registered Accredited Member MBACP (Accred) and Senior Registered Accredited Member MBACP (Snr Acccred). Registered and accredited members are listed on the BACP Register, which shows that they have demonstrated BACP’s recommended standards for training, proficiency and ethical practice. The BACP Register was the first register of psychological therapists to be accredited by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA). Accredited and senior accredited membership are voluntary categories for members who choose to undertake a rigorous application and assessment process to demonstrate additional standards around practice, training and supervision. Individual members will have completed an appropriate counselling or psychotherapy course and started to practise, but they won’t appear on the BACP Register until they've demonstrated that they meet the standards for registration. Student members are still in the process of completing their training. All members are bound by the BACP Ethical Framework and a Professional Conduct Procedure.
Accredited register membership
The Accredited Register Scheme was set up in 2013 by the Department of Health (DoH) as a way to recognise organisations that hold voluntary registers which meet certain standards. These standards are set by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA).
This therapist has indicated that they belong to an Accredited Register.
Areas of counselling I deal with
Other areas of counselling I deal with
If you are wrestling with something that is not listed please do not hesitate to e-mail an enquiry emacmckenzie@gmail.com
Therapies offered
Fees
£45.00 - £120.00
Concessions offered for
Additional information
Face to face sessions from £45.00, sliding scale income dependent, zoom sessions also available (Reduced rates for counselling trainees to be negotiated on a case by case basis). Limited discounted rates are available for those in genuine need - please ask when you contact me. Clinical Supervision £120.00 for 90 minutes (Concessions also available please enquire).
I offer both short term 6-12 sessions solution focused therapy (CBT). Or longer term sessions exploring and seeking to make meaning of the difficulties that may have their roots in childhood and have become "obstacles" in the present preventing fulfilment in the "here and now and going forwards". Please do not hesitate to call or send an e mail with any questions you may have requesting further information. There is nothing that cannot be "worked with and worked through". Learn to "live life on life's terms, one day at a time", the rest of your life starts here......................!
When I work
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Further information
Off Street Parking Current Enhanced CRB check
Useful links:-
BACP - British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy http://www.bacp.co.uk UKCP - United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy http://www.ukcp.org.uk I am accredited and registered with both and apply by their Ethical Framework.
