Jen Mak

The loss of people or things can bring anxiety and depression as we struggle to take care of our own needs and wellbeing. By focusing on the root of the matter, we can make some lasting and meaningful changes.

The way we talk to others and ourselves is a window to what’s going on inside. My counselling space, ‘A Space For’ is a place for you to explore what that is. We can be too easily swept up in the day-to-day and in our long ingrained habits and beliefs that it takes dedicated time and focus to unravel what really is causing us pain, the grudges and guilt. What really is behind the ‘shoulds’ and ‘musts’ that we say?

I have a focus on bereavement counselling as I believe that all pain can be attributed to loss and grief over a life that was or a life that could have been. The theories of grief can help us make sense of our anguish when we lose a relationship, a job, as well as the passing of a loved one.

Responses to grief can be broadly placed in two camps: restorative orientation or loss orientation (Dual Process Model of Grief by Stroebe and Schut). Some people find it easier to place their energy into getting on with the rest of life, preoccupying themselves with the practical and controllable sides of life. Others are floored and swept up in the waves of loss. No side is wrong. We need to experience both.

Counselling can be valuable to those who have become stuck in the restorative orientation. In order to get by each hour, let alone each day, they detach from their feelings of loss and sometimes with their feelings entirely, the positives as well. A counsellor can be a friendly companion to support you explore loss so that you don’t feel completely drowned by it.

On the other hand, if you have been stuck in loss orientation for a while and feel the need to get up and go (such as pressure from family or from work), but haven’t found that motivation, counselling can help you explore the barriers.

Remote Sessions

Counselling on Zoom or telephone is available.

Walk & Talk Sessions

Counselling during a walk through Rouken Glen Park are available Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays (9am-5.30pm).

If you feel stuck, whether through anxiety, loss or some unknown, these Walk & Talk sessions are a gentle opportunity to get outside and allow physical movement to shift you. For some, direct eye contact might be off-putting and walking side-by-side as you talk about what’s going on for you might be more comfortable.

Rather than meeting in an unknown closed room, you may prefer a neutral shared space, perhaps something different from your usual day-to-day environment. Walking and being in nature in general is seen to reduce stress levels and can help with sleep difficulties.

You might enjoy being outdoors or feel drawn to it if you’ve spent a lot of time indoors. Metaphors from nature may also help you articulate your internal world, e.g. feeling uprooted, or waiting for renewal. The pace of walking is up to you, we can sit at any point, whether just on the ground or at a bench, or we can speed up if you feel compelled to. Inviting your body to channel what you’re feeling inside can be cathartic.

Rouken Glen Park offers different spaces – wide open fields, shade in the wooded areas, moments of reflection by the waterfalls or the pond. Different routes can be picked depending on your preferences on the day and the weather.

In-Person Sessions

Counselling in-person is available at The Greenbank Rooms in Clarkston on Mondays and Tuesdays (9am-5.30pm). This is close to public transport and there is free or cheap parking nearby. Please note that these rooms do require stair access. If you need more accessible rooms, please contact me directly.

£60 for 50-minute session in-person or Zoom

In the first session, I’ll explain how I counsel and you’ll explain what is going on for you. After experiencing my way of working, you can choose whether to continue working with me or I can help you find other sources of support.

Check out my blog post on "What Happens in a Counselling Session" - https://aspacefor.com/what-happens-in-a-counselling-session/.