Samantha Edwards

Perhaps you've spent a long time coping, surviving or simply getting through each day. Perhaps you're now ready to understand yourself rather than simply manage what you're experiencing. Finding the right psychotherapist can feel daunting. You may have spent years trying to manage things on your own, perhaps without fully understanding why you feel the way you do. You may know that something needs to change, but not know where to begin. My aim is to make that first step feel a little easier.

About Me

I am a qualified Psychotherapist and a registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (MBACP). I practise in accordance with the BACP Ethical Framework and undertake regular clinical supervision, ensuring that my practice remains ethical, reflective and focused on the wellbeing and best interests of my clients. I also hold an enhanced DBS certificate. I have almost 20 years' professional experience working within mental health, predominantly within the charitable sector. Throughout my career, I have worked in a variety of roles including psychotherapy, mental health advocacy and homelessness prevention. This experience has given me the opportunity to work alongside people from diverse backgrounds and with a broad range of emotional, psychological, social and life difficulties.

Academic background

Alongside my professional psychotherapy qualifications, I hold a BSc (Hons) and MA in Psychology from Bangor University. During my university studies, I developed particular academic interests in risky behaviour, drug and alcohol addiction and mental health. My academic background has provided me with a strong foundation in psychological theory and research, while my professional experience has given me an understanding of the complexity of applying psychological knowledge to real people's lives.

Professional development

My professional development has continued throughout my career, with additional training across areas including trauma, rape and sexual violence, addiction, overdose prevention, motivational interviewing, emotional intelligence, risk management, mental health, safeguarding, self-harm, suicide awareness, challenging behaviour, conflict resolution and communication. I also hold qualifications and professional experience in management and public speaking. I have also worked professionally as a motivational speaker, having had the opportunity to speak at high-profile events including TEDx events, charitable events, award ceremonies and professional training days. This experience has strengthened my ability to communicate complex psychological and emotional concepts in a clear, accessible and relatable way. I believe psychological understanding should be something that can be applied to everyday life, rather than something hidden behind clinical terminology and professional jargon.

How I work

I work from an integrative therapeutic approach, drawing upon a range of psychological theories and therapeutic techniques according to the individual needs, circumstances and goals of each client. I don't believe that one therapeutic model is appropriate for everyone. We all have different histories, personalities, relationships, experiences and ways of understanding the world. My primary therapeutic foundation is Person-Centred Therapy, with empathy, congruence and unconditional positive regard at the heart of my therapeutic relationships. I believe psychotherapy should be sufficiently flexible to accommodate the person rather than expecting the person to accommodate the model. If you need practical strategies, we can explore these. If you want to understand where your difficulties have come from, we can explore that and if you need space to process something deeply upsetting to you, we will create that space for you.

You are not a diagnosis, a problem to be fixed or a collection of symptoms.

I aim to understand the whole person sitting in front of me, including your experiences, relationships, circumstances, strengths, difficulties and the ways you have learned to cope. My role is not to tell you who you are or what you should think and feel. It is to bring my psychological knowledge, professional experience and therapeutic skills into the room while recognising that you are the person who knows your own life from the inside. Clients often tell me that they value my ability to create an environment where they feel comfortable being honest and open. I aim to be warm, approachable and compassionate, while also being willing to ask difficult questions when doing so may help us understand something more deeply. I will listen without judgement, but I won't simply tell you what you want to hear. Where appropriate, I will gently challenge you, help you examine established patterns and encourage you to consider perspectives that may not previously have occurred to you. I believe there is an important balance between providing acceptance and providing challenge. Sometimes you need someone to simply hear you. Sometimes you need someone to help you understand. And sometimes you need someone to respectfully say, “Let's look at this differently.” I bring warmth, humanity and, where appropriate, a little humour into my work, while always maintaining appropriate professional boundaries.

You don't need to have the right words. You don't need to present a polished version of yourself. You can be angry, confused, frightened, embarrassed, overwhelmed, numb, exhausted or simply unsure. We can start wherever you are. If you would like to discuss what you're experiencing or find out whether I might be the right psychotherapist for you, please feel welcome to get in touch