Counselling

Sometimes talking changes things.

People come to counselling for all sorts of reasons.

Sometimes something has happened recently — a relationship has ended, work has become overwhelming or you've experienced a loss.

Sometimes things have been difficult for much longer.

And sometimes there isn't one obvious explanation. You simply know that you're not feeling like yourself, something isn't working, or life has become harder than it used to be.

Counselling gives you dedicated time to talk about what's happening without having to protect, reassure or look after the person listening.

You don't need to know exactly what's wrong before you begin.

Anxiety and worry

Anxiety can make it difficult to switch off.

Your mind may constantly be looking for the next thing that could go wrong. You might overthink conversations, worry about the future, avoid situations, struggle to relax or experience feelings of panic.

Sometimes you know what you're anxious about. At other times, there may simply be a constant sense of unease.

Counselling can give you space to understand what's happening, explore what may be contributing to the anxiety and find different ways of responding to it.

Stress and burnout

Pressure can build gradually.

Work, family responsibilities, finances, relationships and the expectations you place on yourself can leave you feeling as though you're constantly trying to keep up.

You may be exhausted but unable to switch off. You might become more irritable, lose motivation or find that things you would normally cope with suddenly feel overwhelming.

Counselling can help you make sense of those pressures, recognise what may no longer be sustainable and consider what needs to change.

Depression and low mood

Depression doesn't always look like obvious sadness.

You may feel flat, numb, disconnected or exhausted. Things you normally enjoy might no longer interest you. You may withdraw from other people, become more irritable or find even everyday tasks difficult.

Sometimes there is an obvious reason for feeling this way. Sometimes there isn't.

Counselling provides somewhere to talk honestly about how you're feeling and begin to understand what may be contributing to it.

Relationships

Relationships can bring connection and happiness, but they can also be a source of considerable distress.

You may be dealing with conflict, separation, difficulties communicating, changing family relationships or the same patterns happening again and again.

Individual counselling gives you space to think about your relationships without having to take care of somebody else's reaction.

It can help you understand what is happening, what you need and what you may want to do differently.

Grief, bereavement and loss

There isn't a correct way to grieve.

Loss can bring sadness, anger, guilt, relief, confusion, numbness — and sometimes several of these at once.

And grief isn't limited to bereavement. The end of a relationship, loss of a job, changes in health or other major changes in life can also involve a sense of loss.

Counselling gives you somewhere to talk about what has happened without being expected to feel a particular way or 'move on' according to somebody else's timetable.

Self-esteem and confidence

The way you see yourself can affect almost every part of life.

You may be highly self-critical, compare yourself with other people, struggle to recognise your own strengths or constantly worry about what others think of you.

Low confidence can affect relationships, work, decision-making and your willingness to try something new.

Counselling can help you understand where some of these beliefs about yourself may have come from, notice how they affect you now and begin to develop a different relationship with yourself.

Life changes and feeling stuck

Not everyone comes to counselling because of a particular mental health difficulty.

Sometimes life has simply reached a point where something needs to change.

You may be facing a change in relationship, career, family life or circumstances. Or perhaps everything looks fine from the outside, but you feel dissatisfied, stuck or unsure about what comes next.

Counselling can give you time to think more clearly about where you are, what's important to you and what you want your next steps to look like.

Counselling for men and women

Clarity Counselling is an inclusive counselling service for adults.

I work with adults of all genders across a wide range of difficulties.

Alongside my general counselling work, I have a particular professional interest in men's mental health and the ways men may experience or express emotional distress.

Find out more about Men's Mental Health Counselling →

What happens next?

You don't need to decide how many sessions you'll need or know exactly what you want to work on before getting in touch.

We can start with what's happening for you now and talk about what you would like from counselling.

Sessions are available face-to-face in Edinburgh and Bathgate, as well as online.

60-minute sessions • £45

Get in touch with Ewan