Jackie Strachan

Limited availability

I am a person-centred psychotherapist working with the Compassionate Inquiry (CI) approach, offering a therapeutic space that is deeply relational, emotionally attuned and guided by respect for your inner wisdom. At the heart of my work is a belief that healing does not come from being ‘fixed’ but from being met – accurately, compassionately and without judgement.

In our work together we will move gently beneath the surface of the symptoms to understand what your nervous system and emotional world have learned in order to survive. Anxiety, depression, chronic stress, relationship struggles and physical symptoms are not signs of failure; they are meaningful adaptations. Compassionate Inquiry allows us to listen to these adaptations with curiosity rather than shame, helping you uncover the emotional truths and unmet needs that may be shaping your present-day experience.

As a person-centred clinician, I bring warmth, authenticity and deep respect for your autonomy. You are the expert in your life. My role is not to direct you, but to walk alongside you – tracking your inner experience, noticing what emerges in the moment and supporting you to reconnect with parts of yourself that may have been silenced, neglected or forced into hiding. Together we create a space where your whole self is welcome.

This approach is especially supportive if you feel stuck in familiar patterns, overwhelmed by emotions, disconnected from yourself or shaped by early experiences that still echo in your adult life. Our work is slow, embodied and attuned allowing insight and emotional release to arise organically rather than being forced.

Therapy with me is a collaborative, compassionate process of coming home to yourself – learning to meet your inner world with the same kindness and curiosity that I bring to your sessions.

Clients who come to work with me can expect a therapeutic relationship that is consistent, thoughtful and grounded in mutual respect.  Whether our work is long or short-term, I aim to offer a steady and emotionally safe space where your experiences, questions and vulnerabilities are met with care and without judgement.

Most people choose to work with me over an initial period of around 30 sessions.  This allows enough time for trust to develop, for deeper patters to emerge and for meaningful change to take place.  Some clients come with specific focus and find that shorter-term work meets their needs well while others benefit from longer term therapy that support more complex or developmental experiences.  At the end of this initial phase, we take time to review where you are, what has shifted and what you may want next - whether that is continuing, pausing, or bringing the work to a close.

Throughout our work, I stay attentive not only to what you are thinking and talking about, but also to what is happening emotionally and in your body in the present moment. This allows us to notice patterns, unmet needs and protective responses as they arise, rather than analysing them from a distance. Change tends to happen through being understood and emotionally met, rather than through being pushed.

I also work with clear and transparent boundaries around practical matters.  My fee is reviewed annually to reflect the ongoing costs of running a sustainable, ethical practice, and any changes are always discussed with care and in advance.

Above all you can expect me to be engaged, honest and compassionate - committed to offering a therapeutic relationship that supports both your emotional safety and your capacity for growth.

Your first session with me is designed to feel spacious, unhurried and grounded in safety rather than assessment. While we will touch on some practical details, the heart of this first meeting is about beginning the relationship - one in which you can be seen, heard and emotionally met.

We usually begin by making sure that you feel oriented and comfortable.  I will explain how I work including confidentiality and what you can expect in therapy with me. You are welcome to ask questions at any point. there is no pressure to tell your whole story or get anything 'right'. We go at a pace that feels manageable for you.

You may choose to talk about what has brought you to therapy, what feels most alive for you right now, or what you are hoping might change. I will listen closely, not just to your words but to the emotions, body cues and patterns that may be showing themselves as you speak.  At times I may gently reflect, ask a curious question, or invite you to notice what is happening inside you in the moment. This is not about analysing and diagnosing you - it is about beginning to understand your inner world with compassion.

If you are feeling anxious, uncertain or unsure where to start, that is completely welcome here.  We can include that too. Often simply being together in a steady attuned way allows something important to begin to unfold.

By the end of the session, we will have a sense of whether working together feels like a good fit and what next steps might be.  More than anything, the first session is about creating a foundation of trust, safety and gentle curiosity from which deeper work can grow.