Kieran Smyth

MY APPROACH

"I've had enough"

"I can do anything right"

"Its all my fault"

"I'm not Good enough"

"No one will ever love me"

We tell ourselves a lot of things but the one thing we never think to tell ourselves is that ' thoughts aren't facts'  

Just because we think something or even believe it, doesn't make it true and that can be the hardest thing to come to terms with during therapy.  The idea that we aren't infallible, that we may be too hard on ourselves, that we not only need but deserve kindness from others and ourselves can be hard to come to terms with and that is what I offer. A safe, welcoming and supportive place for you to explore, question, come to terms or overcome your beliefs about yourself or the world.

If you've ever stood in a room full of people and felt alone, If you've ever spoken at length and not felt heard or understood. If you've reached a point where something has to give, you aren't alone. If you're wondering if your problems aren't severe enough for therapy, be assured, there is no threshold or minimum. You deserve care and support. All you need is the desire and determination to change, to make things better, to heal and to move forward. Whether its childhood trauma, work stress, anxiety due to the pandemic, your health, relationship issues or you just find some days that little bit too difficult, I'm here to help

THE KIND OF THERAPY I OFFER

As a fully qualified CBT therapist working towards accreditation, I offer what is considered the gold standard in terms of therapy, but tools and approaches aside, I offer a safe, welcoming and non-judgemental space where we can explore your problems together and find real solutions that you can implement in your day to day life. Change is hard but I will be with you every step of the way.

I am registered with the BACP and follow their ethical guidelines and I have full, professional indemnity insurance. I am also PVG a member with Disclosure Scotland.

I attend regular supervision with a qualified therapist and engage in regular CPD to ensure that my knowledge and understanding is up to date and I am able to offer a wide range of therapeutic interventions. 

I believe that we exist on a vast spectrum of normality. We are uniquely variable and shaped by our experiences. There's nothing wrong with 'you' , there are just unhelpful ways of being, thinking and feeling which can cause upset. You are wonderfully you so we'll work together to change the unhealthy thoughts and feelings, letting your best self shine.

I AM HERE

Three little words that can make so much difference to someone who needs to hear them. There are a lot of things that I can offer but first and foremost that is what I promise. When a person feels that it is time for therapy, the work involved, the exploration and the self discovery can seem overwhelming and at times scary but I will be here with you and we will do it together. 

I do not believe that anyone is ever truly broken or damaged beyond repair. We live in a world where sometimes anything short of perfection is viewed as ‘less’ and that simply isn’t true. There is beauty and there is strength in our struggle and our ability to rise above that which holds us down. We are never broken, we are just waiting for the right opportunity, the right support, to put the pieces of ourselves together in a way that makes sense and makes us the best version of ourselves that we can be. 

MY EXPERIENCE AND UNDERSTANDING

I do not consider myself to be  a grief councillor but I know grief. I understand the effect that loss has on people, the effect that grief can have on the lives of those left behind and the weight of those unanswered questions, ten, twenty, thirty years later. I don’t believe that it is possible to take away our grief but I can be here for you, to help you build the strength you need to carry it within you, to accept and to live your life outside of its shadow. 

Our lives are blighted by trauma, the trauma of loss, the trauma of abuse, the trauma of broken relationships and families. I understand however that trauma isn’t just the big things, the car crashes, the crimes, I understand that trauma is deeply personal and I am here to help you explore that. I am here to listen and to help you understand why the moments of your past have taken control of your present so that you can be empowered to take control of your own future 

I have worked with and supported young adults and teenagers for almost 15 years in varying capacities. I have been privileged to work with young adults from some of the most deprived areas in Scotland and with young adults throughout Scotland’s universities and colleges. I have run a leadership development programme for students, supporting them and encouraging them to be the best that they can be. 

I am also a supported living carer, like a foster carer, I take young adults into my home and help them to learn to live independently of the care system. I help them to relearn what it is to live within a family, to trust, and to make connections. I am patient and understanding. My career has been dedicated to making the lives of young people better and that it is something that I take into the therapy that I provide. If you are care experienced or support someone who is care experienced and needs support, please do get in touch. 

My door is open to everyone but I would particularly encourage any man reading this to reach out and get in touch. There is no shame in asking for help, there is nothing to be embarrassed about. I am here, you are not alone and what you are experiencing is worth our time to explore and resolve. You do not need to carry these feelings or deal with them alone. Times are changing and men’s mental health is finally being given the time, care and attention that it needs. 

• Three times as many men as women die by suicide
• Men aged 40-49 have the highest suicide rates in the UK
• Men report lower levels of life satisfaction than women according to the Government’s national wellbeing survey
• Men are less likely to access psychological therapies than women: only 36% of referrals to NHS talking therapies are for men
• Nearly three-quarters of adults who go missing are men
• 87% of rough sleepers are men
• Men are nearly three times as likely as women to become dependent on alcohol, and three times as likely to report frequent drug use
• Men are more likely to be compulsorily detained (or ‘sectioned’) for treatment than women.
• Men are more likely to be victims of violent crime (1.5 more likely than women)
• Men make up the vast majority of the prison population. There are high rates of mental health problems and increasing rates of self-harm in prisons.

WHAT IS CBT THERAPY LIKE?

I specialise in cognitive behavioural therapy(CBT). CBT is a talking therapy that takes a structured approach to building your resistance and helps you change how you think and behave. 

When we first meet I will carry out a risk assessment, and if needed we will agree a safety plan so that you have a plan of what to do if things start to feel like they are too much. 

On a weekly basis we will work together to help you identify the source of your distress and change how you think and act so that you can take a more objective approach, allowing you to take a step back from what it is that causes you distress. 

We will put in place new coping mechanisms, ways for you to deal with difficult thoughts, feelings and situations and build a toolkit that you will be able to use going forward. 

Whilst we work together, we are a team but I will also teach you how to be your own therapist. I will explain what we are doing and why and you will be able to use what you learn going forward. 

WALK AND TALK THERAPY

I appreciate that sometimes the idea of sitting in a room and talking about your problems might not be for everyone but I don’t believe that that should exclude you from getting the help and support that you need. 

Walk and talk, is a great way to get that support if you are nervous about sitting in a room staring at each other. Through gentle walks, you have the opportunity to discuss your problems in a safe environment. Studies have shown that gentle exercise as well as time spent in nature can have a beneficial effect on our well-being.

DO YOU NEED THERAPY?

 I have worked with people who could have carried on, living their lives without therapy. But the quality of those lives have been so greatly improved by therapy that I don’t believe they would chose differently a second time around. 

Everyone can benefit from therapy. We sometimes think that our problems aren't severe enough, the things that cause us pain would be ridiculous to others, that we would just be wasting someone’s time, when there are people so much worse off than us. 

The truth is, your pain, your anxiety, your depression, your fear, is just as valid as anyone else’s and you are just as worthy of support. Could you continue without therapy? You probably could. But the quality of your life could dramatically improve if you take that step. 

CBT can help with everything from relationship difficulties, childhood trauma, self esteem issues, work stress, anxiety , depression and lots more.  CBT gives you the opportunity to take control of your thoughts and feelings and build resilience.

NOTE FOR PARENTS:

It can be incredibly difficult to have gotten to this point in trying to support a teenager or young adult. The choice of therapist is an important and highly personal one. If the young adult or teenager for whom you have concerns would like to speak to me or ask any questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch and I will be happy to have a chat with them and answer any questions they might have. 

Teenagers

Young men 

Young adults 

Adolescents 

Care experience

Animal/pet bereavement

Having frozen our session costs during the pandemic and throughout the cost of living crisis, our fees will rise in January 2024 for all new clients. Returning clients may return at their prior rate until April 2024. 

Session costs as of January 2024: 

£50.00 per session

Concessions for charities available on request .

Unsocial hours sessions between 9pm and 10pm - £60

Saturday sessions £60

Free initial telephone consultation 

Consultation rates are also available upon request. 

I work from home in Motherwell which allows me to offer a safe, comfortable and private space. I use a purpose built summerhouse which is equipped with everything we need to carry out successful therapy sessions. 

The cabin is nice and private and has no windows onto public spaces so you can be assured that your privacy is paramount. It is tastefully decorated with comfortable furniture, providing a relaxing environment. Off street parking is readily available and access to the

Entry to the cabin is via a side gate at the side of my house.