Brenda Mackie

Are you struggling with anxiety, mood swings, deep sadness or anger outbursts? Is it difficult to talk about or express how you feel? Are you working hard to maintain a positive attitude while negative thought processes are tearing you down? Perhaps you want to try to make sense of why these feelings are affecting your everyday living, your work and your relationships?

Counselling will help you to explore difficult feelings and also support you as you start to gain greater insight into emotions and thinking patterns which may have become exhausting and confusing. Having a safe space where you will be listened to without feeling judged is essential. My aim is for you to feel heard in an environment of respect, genuineness and acceptance. This involves working with you as a whole person, mind, body and spirit, helping you to arrive at a place of growth and greater awareness.

I have specialist knowledge of working with individuals who have experienced problems with addictions, primarily drugs and alcohol. Having over 15 years experience of assisting people on their journey of recovery from addiction I fully understand the process of a Twelve Step Programme. I have supported Individuals with a variety of difficulties including abuse, relationship problems and trauma.

I also worked as a child counsellor in both primary and secondary levels where I supported and assisted young children and teenagers to make sense of their world.  I offer play therapy to very young children and supply a range of play and art materials to support this therapy. I have also supported young people within a pupil referral unit who have been excluded from mainstream education, are offending or at risk of offending.