Dr Heidi Ashley

I’m Heidi, an experienced psychologist. I work passionately to help adults overcome their problems and enjoy their lives. 

If your problem’s been bothering you for a while, didn't really shift when you tried therapy before, or returned once therapy ended, you shouldn’t feel disheartened. My greatest joy and satisfaction as a therapist is helping clients like you. Many of my clients feel very differently after therapy. 

I work with people who are tired of feeling stuck in the past. They want to move past painful experiences and stop repeating patterns that don't work for them and keep them feeling stuck. Clients who work with me have usually struggled for a long time, and many have been in therapy before.

I help people move beyond simply learning to manage their problem better. In therapy, we address the past hurts and childhood experiences that contribute to strains in their lives and relationships. 

It is possible to get so much more from therapy than insight or improved coping skills. 

Your difficulties don’t need to keep overshadowing your life. 

All humans are hardwired to heal and to grow, and you are no exception. 

How can I help you feel better? 

I'm a very active therapist: I won’t sit back in silence as the clock slowly ticks! I have a warm, involved style and I'm skilled in many strategies that can help you bring about meaningful change.  

I work with adults whose problems stem from painful experiences in childhood.  I help you overcome these by; 

- building your awareness and understanding

- actively processing old emotion

- helping you break free from problematic behaviour patterns  

I use schema therapy, a leading, evidence-based form of therapy, to help you overcome the barriers to feeling so much better.  

Schema therapy is especially good at unpicking long-term problems, or problems that haven’t responded much to other forms of therapy. It can help a wide range of issues. 

How does schema therapy work differently? 

Schema therapy roots out and targets core emotional themes (called “schemas”) that often sit behind repeating life patterns. Untreated schemas can keep problems going for years - even whole lifetimes. 

 My training guides me to your particular core themes, then we’ll get to work together to deal with them.

Schema therapy is active and structured, but it also works at depth. These are some of the reasons why schema therapy can often break down even long-term or tricky issues. 

Could I help you? 

I can help with a range of longstanding difficulties such as anxiety, depression, relationship issues and low self-esteem or low self-confidence. Lots of people come to me because their life feels empty and dissatisfying. 

I specialise in helping people overcome childhood trauma, childhood emotional abuse and childhood emotional neglect (CEN). Painful childhood experiences can be at the heart of many here-and-now problems. 

I also enjoy providing therapy to other therapists and offer supervision. (Check out my supervisor profile! >>>Button to the right.)

I love being a schema therapist, and am always learning and developing so that I can help my clients more effectively. 

What can I expect in the first session? 

Sessions with me last 50 minutes. It is ideal if you can attend weekly, but fortnightly is a minimum to allow therapy to be effective.

I’ll ask you about yourself and your problems.  It is a supportive conversation, and I don't ask you to open up painful things right away if you don't want to. We go at a pace that feels right for you. I will guide you. 

The first sessions are so important. From the start, I’ll listen very closely and learn a lot about you. I'll create a formulation: a tool used by psychologists to explain your difficulties. The formulation guides us to where the work is most needed so we don’t waste time going up blind alleys or talking in a directionless way. 

Then we can use the many strategies and interventions of schema therapy to target your problems and bring you relief and change. 

If you'd like to know more about how I work, why not read my blog "What happens when I contact or book in with you?" on my website, www.SchemaTherapyGlasgow.com (look for the blogs tab). 

Reach out to me

You've been struggling with this on your own for long enough. Instead of trying so hard alone, consider my door open to you. I'd like to hear from you. Contact me and let me help you find a way out. 

I work with a range of longstanding (chronic) issues such as anxiety, depression, low self-confidence and self-esteem. I specialise in helping people who have gone through childhood trauma (complex PTSD) or childhood emotional neglect (CEN). 

Please contact me to discuss my fee.