My name is Stuart Morgan-Ayrs and I provide Specialist Trauma Therapy in Edinburgh City Centre and online using Google Meetings.
This page is designed to give you some background about me, allow you to get a feel about how I work, and therefore whether you might like to work with me to process and move on from your trauma.
As you take a look at the therapy models I provide, you will note that I am registered with several professional bodies. This is because research indicates that Complex Trauma (PTSD) does not respond fully to talking therapy alone. This is partly because trauma is recorded in different types of memory, and these are accessed in different ways. Talking therapy accesses one form of memory, somatic processing (mind-body work) is needed to access the other.
On top of the memory issue, complex trauma has an effect on almost every aspect of life. This is because in order to survive it, you have to adapt away from normal behaviours. In doing so effects occur in nutrition, activity, general well being, social interactions, self image, identity and beliefs.
Addressing all of these areas means having to have a therapy "tool box" to drawn on in order to guide, train, teach, support and advise the client, beyond just processing the trauma itself.
Most importantly the way I provide specialist support for Complex Trauma (PTSD) is guided and informed by research, neurology, the latest data from leading experts, and is presented within the frameworks taught in the Advanced Clinical Certifications CCTP I, CCTP II and CCTS-I & CFTM, as well as Certification in Clinical use of Hypnosis and Neurology based Mind-Body Trauma Treatment. These certifications are recognised professionally across all the States of the USA for clinical practice, as well as being highly respected around the World.
My first exposure to trauma in others was with my Grandfather, a survivor of the Somme battles in WW1. He suffered from severe PTSD until he died with Dementia in his 80's. This combined with my own personal experience on Complex Trauma as a child, growing up in a deeply dysfunctional and violent family.
As I gained my independence in my teenage years, I became immersed in Martial Arts, Tai Chi, Chi Gung, Meditation, Mindfulness and Taoism, and this became the starting point on a lifelong journey into Holistic & Integrative Therapy.
At university I studied a degree I was "strongly encouraged" to do rather than what I wanted, but to my surprise I gained new insights into analytical thinking, human resources, emotional stress in the workplace and design. I graduated with a BSc(Hons)I.I.T. and went straight on to train as a therapist.
My therapy training was externally accredited to Level 5 on the new qualification framework, the level now respected as the appropriate minimum level for professional qualification in psychotherapy. My main subject areas of competency were Analytic Hypnotherapy, Psychotherapy and Stress Counselling, but as part of my project I incorporated CBT, NLP, coaching, psycho-education and Mindfulness among others.
As part of my therapy training 1993-6 I had to complete over 1,000 hours of training, and address a minimum of 200 clients with a minimum client satisfaction rate of 80% , as well as completing externally assessed examinations and course work (through a City & Guilds NVQ process). I then worked in clinical practice, while also cross training in youth work, nutrition and completing a University Certificate in Interpersonal Skills for Volunteering.
In 2000 I began the process of another accreditation, post graduate level with the NACHP professional body, leading to accreditation as a clinical psychotherapist, clinical hypnotherapist and Counsellor. I again incorporated mindfulness and CBT among other methods, and found I was becoming increasing psychoanalytic in focus.
After relocating to Scotland I decided to update my skills while building a new practice, and after completing a range of Continuous Professional Development updates in integrative psychotherapy, counselling, hypnotherapy, NLP, mental health and coaching (at levels 3 and 4) I then embarked on more University Study. Over the next few years I completed a MSc Psychology (specialising in neurology in mental health, identity and comparative psychology models), a BA(Hons) Open (specialising in Psychology, Philosophy and Politics), a BA(Hons) Psychology and Philosophy of the Mind, and a University Certificate of Education (specialising in Theology, Psychology and Scottish Philosophy). I also completed competency training in CBASP at Dundee University, and competency update trainings in MBSR, MBCT and CBT. I have also completed a Post Graduate Diploma in Complex Trauma, externally validated to level 7.
Since then I have completed Specialist Clinical Trainings in a range of subjects, all requiring a minimum entry level of a Masters Degree and full licensing to practice, and requiring a 80% examination score to pass. I have completed separate Clinical speciality trainings in Trauma, Complex trauma ( four different internationally recognised board certifications), and Dissociation, Hypnosis & Neurology based Mind-Body Clinical trauma, Depression & Mood Disorders, Anxiety, Grief, Advanced Grief, Attention Disorders, Anger Management and Integrative Medicine and Nutrition for Mental Health. I have also completed extensive additional CPD training in Polyvagal theory, Integrative trauma treatments, Attachment theory, parts theories including IFS, Addictions in trauma and Neurology. I have completed skills courses in Relational EMDR and DBT, as well as competency certification courses in Clinical Mindfulness, RO-DBT I and ACT.
My specialist trainings have included specialist training in the application of CBT and other psychotherapy techniques in a trauma informed way, including narrative based therapy, cognitive restructuring, prolonged or in vivo exposure, self regulation training, and other cognitive behavioural and psychoeducation methods.
My knowledge and competence in psychological aspects is combined through somatic and mind body and relational training to my knowledge of body and nutritional based therapy. I am a qualified Chi Gung (and other martial arts) instructor and Naturopath with post graduate training in somatic processing and naturopathy for trauma.
I have recently completed a 6 month cohort post graduate course in InterPersonnal NeuroBiology (IPNB) with Professor Dan Siegel (Professor of Psychiatry ULCA) through the Mindsight Institute, and a Post Qualification Certification in Immunopathology with Peter Kay PhD through the CMA.
All through my career the main areas of my practice have been Trauma, Complex Trauma, Domestic Violence, Trauma of Discrimination and Adverse Childhood Experiences. I have also worked in related fields where trauma has been present including long term depression, clinical anxiety, personality disorders and mood disorders. Getting officially certified in these areas therefore was a logical career progression.
People often like to know what my professional registrations are, and I am happy to oblige:
*Validation organisations for the CNHC PSA AR
As well as being held to strict professional codes of conduct and ethics, I am also registered as a Hypnotherapy Practitioner on the CNHC Professional Standards Authority Accredited Register (PSA AR) for my Clinical work, and the ACCPH for my non clinical counselling work. I am also required by my registrations to carry out extensive CPD update training every year, maintain clinical supervision and to carry professional insurance for the therapies provided.
In summary I am a qualified integrative psychotherapist, analytic hypnotherapist, counsellor, mindfulness practitioner, life coach, complementary medicine practitioner and holistic therapy practitioner specialising in integrative body-mind complex trauma, grief and PTSD therapy in Edinburgh and online.
I maintain registration on at least one Professional Standards Authority Accredited Register at any time. The PSA AR system is the "Right Touch" Regulation system in the UK, and if a practitioner is registered on an Accredited Register, then you know they have evidenced their qualifications, fitness to practice, ethical monitoring and other standards to protect the public. Currently my main registration for clinical work is with the PSA AR held by the Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council, under the discipline of Hypnotherapy.
Contact me for free information files to enable you to consider whether the service is right for you
I work from private offices located in Central Edinburgh, just off the main shopping street, and on the tram, bus and rail routes. I also work online using Google Meetings.
Specialist Trauma Therapy incorporating mind, body, well being, social, interpersonal and education. Main therapy models include psychotherapy, somatic processing and psycho-education. Certified Clinical Specialist. Located in Central Edinburgh.
It is a challenge to find the right therapist, especially when complex trauma means you need more than just a standard counsellor or mental health professional. Finding a specialist traumatologist providing integrative psychotherapy and other therapies to address complex PTSD or abuse is not easy. You have made contact with a specialist service and I hope I can help you heal, process and move forward to reach your true life potential
Regards, Stuart
Talking therapy alone is not enough to fully address complex trauma. Therefore different therapies are used to address the psychological, somatic, behavioural, social and interpersonal aspects of the condition. Movement and nutrition are also addressed because these have real effects on recovery. Nutrition in particular has a bidirectional (2 way back and fore) effect with mental health and trauma stress processing.
The trauma process consists of three main phases: Stabilise (where the heat is taken out of life now and it becomes calmer and easier), Integration and self examination (where patterns are examined and you learn to reconnect with the areas of your emotions that are shut off), and Moving on (rebuild and reach your potential). Everyone is different in how long this takes, but the whole journey needs patience and takes months or years, not just a few sessions. Complex trauma develops over many years, sometimes decades, so of course it takes patience to fully overcome it.
Once you contact me using the online contact forms, or by email, I will send you my information files. These will contain information on the service, links to the appropriate web pages to tell you all about terms and conditions, cancellation policy, COVID safety and so forth. Also included is a break down of cost according to your income level. If you decide you are interested in proceeding you can ask any brief questions by email, and then you can complete the online assessment forms for clinical assessment. If these show no reason for the service being incompatible with your clinical needs, you will then be offered an appointment subject to availability.
All healthcare professionals have a legal duty to take action if a person or animal is at risk, or if faced with a valid police warrant or court order. In all other cases confidentiality is normally comprehensive.
Sometimes in rare cases this is appropriate just for a first assessment. Normally it is not appropriate. At the moment it is not possible at all due to COVID regulations.
©2021 Stuart Morgan-Ayrs
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