About me
Connection Psychotherapy — Specialist Trauma & Childhood Neglect Clinic, Glasgow
Do you have a sense that something isn't quite right — not dramatically wrong, just a feeling that won't go away?
You might be someone who keeps everything moving. Capable, outwardly fine — yet inside you carry anxiety, guilt, or constant mental noise. You replay conversations long after they're over. You say yes automatically, without pausing. Rest feels uncomfortable. You may experience bursts of drive followed by exhaustion, and find yourself wondering whether you're ADHD, burnt out, or somehow "different."
Many of the people we work with are thoughtful and self-aware. They've often tried for years to understand themselves — sometimes through previous therapy — and still feel that something important has been missing.
Why these patterns exist
These are intelligent adaptations to early environments — the way trauma, emotional neglect, inconsistent caregiving, or chronic stress shapes a nervous system. Childhood neglect in particular can be invisible, even to the person who lived it: it's not about what happened, but about what didn't. Our work is to help you understand that — and then to help you change it.
About the clinic
Connection Psychotherapy is a specialist psychotherapy clinic founded by Gem Thomson, a BABCP Accredited CBT Therapist with over 12 years' experience across the NHS and private practice. Gem specialises in the lasting impact of childhood neglect and trauma, working integratively with trauma-focused CBT, EMDR, and schema therapy (a form of parts-based work).
The clinic also offers remote sessions with a Clinical Psychologist, and remote therapy for children and young people.
Sessions are available in person in Shawlands, Glasgow, or online.
What working together looks like
Together we:
Map the patterns that pull you back into anxiety, shame, guilt, or withdrawal
Trace where those patterns began, so they make sense rather than feeling mysterious or broken
Work experientially, so change becomes felt — not just understood
Build new internal responses that hold up in real life
This is depth-based work, not surface coping. It creates change that lasts.
What change can look like
Over time, people often notice: pausing instead of automatically saying yes; a quieter inner critic; feeling less responsible for everyone else's emotional state; rest that genuinely restores; a growing sense of freedom and internal steadiness.
You don't need to earn your worth, and you don't need to hold everything together through effort alone. You need space, safety, and depth.
If any of this feels familiar, get in touch — we offer a free initial consultation, and we'd be glad to hear from you.
Training, qualifications & experience
- BABCP-accredited Cognitive Behavioural Therapist (meeting the gold-standard for CBT in the UK)
- Specialist training in trauma-focused CBT, schema therapy, EMDR, and compassion-focused approaches
- Over 16 years’ experience working in mental health, including NHS and private practice
- Founder of Connection Psychotherapy Ltd, offering online therapy to adults across the UK and internationally
- Regularly attend supervision and continued professional development (CPD) to ensure my practice is up-to-date and responsive to client needs
Over the years, I’ve helped people struggling with anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship difficulties, grief, stress, and low self-esteem. I bring both professional expertise and a warm, down-to-earth approach, aiming to make therapy a safe and collaborative space for you to work through challenges.
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.
The BABCP is the lead organisation for Cognitive Behavioural Therapy in the UK. Membership is open to anyone with an interest in the practice, theory or development of CBT. BABCP also provides accreditation for CBT therapists. BABCP accredited members adhere to the Standards of Conduct, Performance and Ethics in the Practice of Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies, and are willing to be scrutinised in this adherence as required.
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
Therapies offered
Fees
£110.00 - £120.00
Health Insurance/EAP
Additional information
CBT / EMDR – £110
SPECIALIST/Schema-focused work – £120
When I work
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Further information
I offer sessions online via secure video call, which means you can access therapy from the comfort of your own home. Evening appointments are sometimes available to help fit around work and family commitments.
My style is collaborative and down-to-earth. I believe therapy works best when you feel safe, understood, and supported to explore both the challenges you’re facing and the changes you’d like to make.
Many people worry about whether they’ll “know what to say” in therapy. Please know you don’t have to prepare anything - we’ll go at your pace, and I’ll guide the process so you feel supported, not pressured.
