Kerry Laidlaw Counsellor & Psychotherapist

Kerry Laidlaw Counsellor & Psychotherapist

I am a tertiary qualified, skilled and experienced counsellor with a strong commitment to the benefits of the counselling relationship as a supportive pathway for change. I can help you with finding useful and suitable strategies for managing depression and anxiety, with struggles in interpersonal relationships and with difficulties around life transitions, such as managing the new or challenging role of parenting and other life changing circumstances.
I have a great deal of experience working with the mental health impacts of living in abusive or controlling relationships, with past trauma such as past childhood abuse, sexual assault or bullying in the workplace or elsewhere and with working around issues of self confidence and self esteem.

I have a particular interest in working with gay and lesbian communities, with young women and men and with new parents.

I am interested in the latest brain based therapies which help us know about how the various parts of our brain are involved as we experience particular symptoms in relation to depression and trauma and how activating particular parts of the brain can help us manage and tolerate symptoms of anxiety, depression and other mental health concerns. I work in a collaborative way with each individual to ensure that the theory I might draw on will suit the hopes, needs and aspirations of that individual. I also have a growing interest in the ways of mindfulness and meditation and how such practices can foster an environment of present centredness that helps to alleviate the sometimes spiralling negative thought patterns that can at times of great stress, be so debilitating.
I have a warm, supportive approach to counselling as well as a willingness to gently challenge some of the strongly held beliefs and behaviours that can fuel symptoms of anxiety and depression.
I am available weekdays and Saturday mornings with some evening appointments mid week. ...read more