Charlotte Penketh

Monday - online 

Wednesday - online and in person 

Friday - online and in person 

I offer a confidential, trauma-informed sanctuary designed to get alongside individuals in Christian leadership, ministry, and missions, while warmly welcoming clients from all walks of life. I deeply understand the intense isolation and unique "fishbowl" pressures of leadership, where public expectations make it difficult to process burdens safely.As a qualified counsellor with a Christian worldview, I provide a safe, non-judgmental space where you can freely explore your experiences, vulnerabilities, or questions of faith, regardless of your role or background. I hold a specialist interest in supporting those navigating the painful realities of spiritual abuse and church hurt, offering a balanced, empathetic perspective that understands the complexities from "both sides of the coin."

Additionally, I specialise in helping individuals and couples work through the long-term effects of purity culture, particularly how these systemic teachings impact intimacy, communication, and emotional connection within marriage.

Whether you are a leader carrying the weight of a community, someone hurting from a church environment, or an individual or couple seeking to heal from past formatting, my practice bridges a disciplined professional framework with deep empathy. Together, we can safely unpack your past experiences, de-escalate marital conflict using research-backed frameworks (such as Gottman and EFT), and navigate life’s tensions with grace.

A Secure, Confidential Sanctuary

When you step into therapy with me, you can expect an environment of absolute discretion. If you are in leadership, this is a rare space where you can step out of the "fishbowl," drop public expectations, and safely unpack your heaviest burdens without fear of judgment.

A Dual-Perspective Framework

I blend professional clinical training with a faith-informed worldview. This means you can expect:

• Complete Autonomy: A trauma-informed approach where you dictate the pace, ensuring you feel emotionally safe and in control.
• Freedom to Question: A non-judgmental space to voice honest doubts, faith deconstruction, spiritual abuse, or church hurt.
• Cultural Understanding: You do not have to explain ministry structures, missionary lifestyles, or the nuances of purity culture to me; I understand them from the inside.

Our work will not just be about processing the past. Depending on your goals, you can expect structured, practical strategies:

• For Individuals: CBT tools to lower daily anxiety and regulate your nervous system, combined with psychodynamic insights to explore root causes.
• For Couples: High-impact, research-backed frameworks (Gottman Method, EFT, and Imago) to de-escalate circular arguments and safely rebuild emotional and physical intimacy.

You can expect a highly professional, confidential service delivered either in-person from my quiet garden office in Milngavie, North Glasgow, or securely online worldwide via Zoom. I also provide administrative support (Letters of Support) if you are applying for organisational Member Care funding.

For Individuals: The Free Introductory Step

• The Initial Call: Individual therapy always begins with a free, no-obligation 15-minute introductory phone call.
• What to Expect: This is a gentle space to ensure we are a good fit for your therapeutic journey. I will explain how my integrative, trauma-informed approach works, and you will have a full opportunity to ask any questions.
• The First Full Session: Once we proceed to your first 50-minute session, our focus is on establishing emotional safety and defining your goals at your own pace.

• A Deeper Intake Process: Unlike individual work, the initial assessment stage for couples is a thorough process that typically takes a few sessions to complete.
• Unpacking the Relationship: During these initial sessions, we will deeply map out your individual backgrounds, your unique attachment styles, and your current conflict cycles.
• The Framework: We use this structured assessment window to lay the groundwork for our interventions, using tools from the Gottman Method, Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), and Imago to safely guide you toward repair.