Patricia Johnstone

I am a qualified Psychodynamic Counsellor. Through my training and work with current clients I have gained much from working with those who experience anxiety and depression, bereavement, trauma and manifestations that are symptomatic of abuse, neglect and weak attachments.

As a Primary School Teacher, the well-being of all children was very important to me. Later in this career I was lead to work in nurturing infant children, who had been hindered in their education, due to loss, trauma and neglect. This meant building trust through a capacity to be patient and tolerant against all forms of resistance and insecurity, and to provide a kind, caring and consistent environment, with firm boundaries that enabled children to feel safe and secure. These skills lend themselves very well to the clinical setting and in enabling clients to feel securely held as they share their vulnerabilities in an environment that feels safe.

I am no stranger to the rigours of managing and overcoming adversity. My experience of widowhood, when our children were very young, has taught me to be open-minded about the realities and challenges that many face during the course of their lives.