Stuart Morgan-Ayrs

My service is the provision of specialist traumatology, that is the certified specialist clinical treatment of trauma (PTSD) and complex trauma (C-PTSD). I am a multiple certified clinical specialist in different accredited styles of trauma treatment, having completed 5 different post graduate certifications, all of which complement, and all of which utilise the "gold standard" 3-stage method of safe trauma treatment (Herman 2002). This approach maps closely to the NICE guidelines and is an evidenced "manual" (meaning process or plan) as required by NICE standards.

NICE guidelines for C-PTSD and PTSD specifically state that a trauma treatment practitioner is "A person with mental health training, particularly in PTSD, who also has training and competence in delivering interventions for PTSD".  You should therefore always consult a practitioner with specialist certified training and competency who follows an evidence based process / "manual" for treating and managing trauma!

I am also a Certified specialist in the treatment of ADHD and ASD related issues, and in particular the cross over that occurs with trauma co-morbidity. I Have ASD Clinical Certification as well as a PG Diploma (lvl7) in Developmental Psychology specialising in Applied Behavioural Analysis for ASD & ADHD.

My clients come from a range of backgrounds containing trauma, loss or abuse. These include but are not limited to:

• PTSD events such as accidents, injury or military events
• Complex trauma from childhood, otherwise know as Adverse Childhood Experiences
• Domestic violence, manipulation, gas lighting and other abuse
• Trauma associated with discrimination, “coming out” or other identity related events.
• Grief and loss based trauma from bereavement, separation, conflict zones or indeed COVID
• Many of my clients also have, or suspect they may have Asperger's Syndrome (ICD Definition) or higher functioning ASD (DSM definition), or ADHD

We do not provide any form of conversion therapy. We are an inclusive provider, and we will work with you over the therapy process to ensure we are the clinically appropriate service for your needs and that working with your needs will be within our competency, and match our service specialisms

Many trauma survivors have collected other related diagnosis on their journey to identifying their core issue as trauma, and it is commonplace for them to have diagnosis of anxiety, depression, mood disorders, eating disorders, personality disorders, autism or OCD. As a result I have also completed certified specialist training in several of these, and additional training in the rest.

I am a neuro-diverse survivor of complex PTSD myself, and as a clinician with personal experience I will keep focused on core methods that work, while understanding how difficult and painstaking the journey can be.

It is widely accepted in traumatology that “talking therapy” alone is not enough to tackle and treat complex trauma.

An integrated approach is now recommended by the major experts and authorities in the field, and supported by the research. Elements include:

• Psycho-education: learning about the science, neurology and patterns of the condition, including in relation to nutrition, self care, lifestyle and relationships.
• Self regulation training: effective methods to manage and control the chaos, and self soothe
• Somatic integration: relearning how to listen to the inputs, data and feelings in the physical body
• Interpersonal integration: learning how to relate to people in post trauma environments
• Developing new patterns: learning how to develop new thought and behavioural patterns and the neurology behind how to make this actually work.

Major traumatology research recommends a three part approach, and although slightly different styles uses slightly different descriptors, these are essentially:

• Stabilise: Using psycho education and self regulation to gain control and stability before delving deeper.
• Somatic and theme analysis: Learning to identify the patterns of belief and behaviour and how they developed, and reconnecting to the other systems of the body.
• Post trauma: Learning to live and thrive post trauma, living fully with your own narrative.

In your therapy journey I will base all the work around research evidenced methods, while adapting to make the journey personal and appropriate to your individual needs. “What works - Gently!”

How to book: EMAIL me (please do not phone) and request an information pack.

I will send you 3 files, the second  and third are on the industry, the first- FILE 1 will describe in detail the service, have weblinks to all our terms, conditions and policies, lays out the free structure, and provides a link to the online screening and assessment forms. File 1 is deliberately VERY comprehensive. The idea is that whether you choose our service or not, you will be able to make informed choices about trauma and ASD treatment from the information and references within the file. 

My approach is Integrative and Multi Modal and can be trans-diagnostic. That is to say although I am informed by medical diagnosis that a client may have, I will also look beyond surface issues to deeper issues such as trauma, grief and attachment issues.

Complex trauma has a wide range of comorbidities including:

• Disassociative disorders such as NEAD and Non specific neurological diagnosis
• Personality Disorders
• Long term depression
• Anxiety
• Eating Disorders
• Self Harm
• Insomnia and self care issues
• Pain management disorders
• Chronic Fatigue and post viral disorders
• Asperger's / ASD and other neuro-diversity

Fees are updated yearly in April

On receipt of your enquiry the latest fee structure will be provided in pdf format for your reference. We have a fee structure according to client income.

My service is almost entirely focused on trauma, complex trauma, and those conditions that appear alongside trauma, such as OCD, eating and personality disorders, depression and mood disorders and anxiety. 

Many of my clients also have diagnosis / assessment of Asperger's / ASD, which often exists alongside complex trauma.

I work out of a custom arranged and COVID secure clinic in Edinburgh City Centre, with strict cleaning, sterilisation and air filtration. I have completed two COVID hygiene and safety courses for clinical professionals, and I maintain extremely high standards of COVID safety.  I also see clients online, both at distance and when COVID or other health measures require it.

Most of the time my clinic is extremely busy or full, especially since the COVID pandemic, but when things are quieter, I also provide humanistic psychotherapeutic counselling for non clinical conditions.

Please note that I have studied multiple post graduate clinical specialism certifications in my field -  I am trained to provide a complete package for C-PTSD, including naturopathic, somatic, behavioural, functional, body psychological and psychological.

If you contact me, you will be sent my information files. File 1 is all about the service, what to expect, and has weblinks to all the terms, conditions and policies you need to know about and agree to in order to use the service. Files 2 and 3 are about regulation and standards.

If you decide to proceed after reading the information, please complete the TWO online forms via the weblink right at the end of File 1. These are the Screening and Assessment form, and the COVID safety form. Once these have been received and checked, I will let you know whether the service is a clinical sensible match for you. 

I have experience, knowledge and study of a range of identity issues including faiths, ethnicities, sexualities and kinks. If you have indicate that you have any particular relevant identity issues, that may play an important part of your therapy journey, the information files give a summary of my areas of experience for your reference. My priority is to ensure you find the most appropriate service for your needs.

Please note: I do not answer phone calls to my mobile (impossible in clinic and when travelling), and I do not “have a chat” before clients book (it is not my job to persuade anyone to have therapy, and discussing your case pre assessment is unethical speculation). I also do not accept requests to “do CBT” or “do hypnosis” etc, I am a clinical specialist, and therefore I will outline the appropriate therapy models for you after your assessment for you to consider.

How to book: EMAIL me (please do not phone) and request an information pack.

I will send you 3 files, the second and third are on the industry, the first- FILE 1 will describe in detail the service, have weblinks to all our terms, conditions and policies, lays out the free structure, and provides a link to the online screening and assessment forms. This file is very comprehensive and is designed to enable you to make informed choices in the trauma sector beyond our service.

Key Words & Phrases:

Trauma, Complex Trauma, C-PTSD, PTSD, Abuse, Childhood abuse, Emotional Abuse, Domestic violence, Adverse Childhood Experience, ACE score, Personality Disorder, Mood swings, Anxiety, OCD, Depression, Sexual violence, Sexual trauma, Grief and Trauma, Bereavement, Relationship Trauma, Interpersonal Therapy, Trauma counselling, Somatic Trauma Therapy, Integrative Trauma Therapy, EMDR, Hypnosis for Trauma, Trauma Therapist, Trauma Counsellor, Psychotherapy for Trauma, Counselling for PTSD, Counselling for C-PTSD, Abuse survivor, rape survivor, incest survivor, Family trauma, Asperger's,  Autism, Couples therapy, developmental trauma, somatic therapy, sensiomotor psychotherapy, brain spotting therapy.

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