About me
Welcome to Samantha McEwan Psychotherapy -Trauma, anxiety and depression therapist. In Kilmarnock and online.
Hi, and welcome. I'm Samantha, a trauma-informed cognitive behavioural psychotherapist and mental health nurse, and have extensive experience supporting people heal from difficulties affecting their personal, relational and working lives, such as the impact of:
- complex trauma/PTSD: childhood sexual, physical or emotional abuse, including neglect; or unstable caregiving
- traumatic experiences in adulthood
- loss of purpose and identity
- binge eating or bulimia
- anxiety, depression or self criticism
- relationship or communication difficulties
- bullying or burnout at work
My clinical background and training means I have expertise in working with people going through complex difficulties, and understand the wider nuances that can affect my clients' wellbeing -like early life experiences, physical health conditions, or the standards and values they place importance on, their workplace cultures, and familial and other relationships. It also means there is little I've not heard over the years -which has made me passionate about ensuring that people feel heard, believed and helped.
Therapy with me
I work actively and compassionately with my clients to understand and address the root causes of their difficulties, not just the surface symptoms.
I use only evidence-based treatments tailored to my clients' pace and needs, like CBT, ACT, DBT, compassion and emotion focused therapies, trauma processing therapy, as well as elements of IFS/ 'parts' therapy, and the Rewind Technique which helps 'file way' intrusive memories, all within a relational, trauma-informed approach. This means my practice works to ensure your safety, choice and empowerment -you can learn more about trauma informed therapy on my website.
I offer both longer and short term therapy, with follow up afterwards.
Benefit for my clients
It is always a real privilege to be alongside each of my clients on their journey. Previous clients have fed back that they benefitted from my kind, active and direct approach in therapy, enabling them to get to the root of their difficulties and move forward confidence and renewed sense of self and purpose. (Please see Further Information section, or my website, for some of my client feedback).
Starting therapy
For successful therapy, it's important that you find a therapist that you can connect with. I offer a free, informal, and no-obligation 20-30 minute consultation call to talk through what you are facing at the moment and how we might work together. There's no pressure for you to go into lots of detail.
Please do feel free to get in touch, and I try to respond to email inquiries within one working day.
My Clinical Background
As a mental health nurse with over 25 years experience I enjoyed working in communities supporting and treating people with complex trauma, depression and anxiety, and addressing health inequalties. I lectured in mental health nursing, and then worked to educate on and improve trauma-informed, therapeutic pracice within inpatient mental health services across Scotland, publishing work on this, and to develop mental health and suicide prevention training which is now used across health and social care in Scotland.
I teach aspiring counsellors on the COSCA Counselling Skills Certificate and volunteer with a specialist trauma charity that offers therapy to women and men who have experienced childhood sexual abuse.
I am registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), BACP and COSCA, and undertake regular clinical supervision. I have a clear PVG, am fully insured and registered with the ICO.
Please do look around my website for some supportive resources and information, including what to look for in a trauma informed therapist.
Training, qualifications & experience
Some of my qualifications, training and Continuous Professional Development include:
- MSc Mental Health Nursing Advanced Practice
- MSc Level Pg Diploma in Cognitive Behaviour Therapy
- Diploma and BSc Mental Health Nursing
- Certificate in Human Relations and Counselling (Psychodynamic approach)
- Supporting the needs of children and young people with autism (NAS)
- Adapting CBT for Adults with Autism and ADHD
- Certificate in Couples Therapy
- Trauma Informed Recovery and Post-Traumatic Growth Coaching certifications (USA programmes accredited by ICF)
- Coaching certificate for workplace and professional growth (Full Circle)
- Pg Certificate CBT
- Rewind Technique (aids appropriate 'filing' of traumatic memories to reduce their repeated intrusion into everyday thinking)
- Additional trauma training (imagery re-scripting, re-parenting, emotional and physiological / somatic body awareness and processing for intrusive memories, thoughts and flashbacks, and emotions)
- Internal family systems ('parts' therapy)
- Additional higher education teaching certificate, and USA accredited healthcare system improvement coaching certification.
Member organisations
COSCA is the professional body for counselling and psychotherapy in Scotland, and seeks to advance all forms of counselling and psychotherapy and the use of counselling skills by promoting best practice and through the delivery of a range of sustainable services. COSCA Counsellor Accreditation is a pathway to entry onto the UKRC. It is a requirement of all individual and organisational members of COSCA to abide by its Statement of Ethics and Code of Practice and be accountable to the Complaints Procedure. Accredited by the Professional Standards Authority.
BACP is one of the UK’s leading professional bodies for counselling and psychotherapy with around 60,000 members. The Association has several different categories of membership, including Student Member, Individual Member, Registered Member MBACP, Registered Accredited Member MBACP (Accred) and Senior Registered Accredited Member MBACP (Snr Acccred). Registered and accredited members are listed on the BACP Register, which shows that they have demonstrated BACP’s recommended standards for training, proficiency and ethical practice. The BACP Register was the first register of psychological therapists to be accredited by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA). Accredited and senior accredited membership are voluntary categories for members who choose to undertake a rigorous application and assessment process to demonstrate additional standards around practice, training and supervision. Individual members will have completed an appropriate counselling or psychotherapy course and started to practise, but they won’t appear on the BACP Register until they've demonstrated that they meet the standards for registration. Student members are still in the process of completing their training. All members are bound by the BACP Ethical Framework and a Professional Conduct Procedure.
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.
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
Photos & videos
Fees
£55.00 - £65.00
Concessions offered for
Additional information
My therapy sessions last one hour, session fees are £65; with a reduced fee of £55 for people on a lower income, students and keyworkers; or to make therapy more accessible. Please do get in touch to chat over.
When I work
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Further information
My therapy office is at suite 3.07 Ingram Enterprise Centre, John Finnie St, Kilmarnock. The street is on a bus route and there is on street, paid parking and also a car park around the corner. There's lift and stairs access to my office, and a staffed and friendly, but quiet, reception. There are various business types in the building which helps preserve anonymity if this feels important. My clients find my office a calming and safe space. You can contact me through the contact form here or via email: samantha.cbtcounselling@gmail.com
Some client feedback (available on MindDiagnostics.org):
"Samantha picks things up about my situation very quickly. She is so transparent and calming and gets to the heart of things."
"Samantha has been a great rock of support in some very difficult times for me. She listens and helps me to organise my thoughts and what may be causing them."
"I'm so thankful I connected with Samantha. She is professional, responsive and sensitive, while also knowledgable and straightforward with me. The way she understands me has been a long-awaited breath of fresh air. Samantha helps me process things and provides useful, enlightening perspectives for me to work with. She has been tremendously supportive and has really made a difference in my life."
"Samantha is an exceptional therapist—she’s a truly attentive listener and has a calm, thoughtful approach to problem-solving. I always feel heard and understood in our sessions, and her guidance has helped me navigate some really challenging situations with clarity and confidence. Highly recommended."
"Samantha is considerate, professional and will provide you with tools to start getting better and support you strongly on your journey."
