Sisu Therapy

21/08/2026

The Core Conditions- unconditional positive regard, empathy, congruence.

17/08/2026

Are you a people pleaser?

12/08/2026

This beautiful girl is Bracken, my wee furry niece. She is enjoying a week in the relative cool of the scottish summer, compared to her home in the south of England. Even at ten, she is still mostly a happy, spritely ball of energy, glued to my brother’s heels.Today I popped in to see her and immediately noticed a change. She was quiet, lacking energy, and had no interest in her beloved tennis balls. Her dad had gone out for an hour and she was missing him dreadfully.
It made me reflect on how much our internal emotional environment ( I‘ve made up a new word! I’m calling it our- emosystem) is shaped by connection.
We are wired for connection. We’ve evolved over a long period of time to function as part of a group, our tribe, because that means safety.
Her dad arrived back and her tail just about wagged her bum off! When someone important to us is absent, even for just a wee while it often shows up in our mood, motivation and energy.
Sometimes these feelings are not a sign that something is wrong, but a sign that someone matters. 🫶 Our feelings communicate something to us.
From a therapy point of view, we consider emotions to be feelings with a thought behind it. Often we try and avoid these emotions and push them away. Therapy comes in to its own at this point, we can learn to sit with these emotions and explore them in a safe and supportive place. This helps teach our brains that maybe they’re not so scary and we don’t need to panic or avoid……
Follow along to find out more.
Send me a DM with any questions.

09/08/2026

"Green door what's that secret you're keeping?" Shakin' Stevens Showing my age again here- and loving it! I couldn't resist. 😊
No secrets here, just progress. My lovely friend and colleague Alex Kavanagh Counselling and I are very excited to move in to our very own , newly renovated, wee office in a few weeks time Spaces. Although we have different styles in decor, we have agreed on some lovely warm colours which are hopefully comfortable, fresh and gentle. 🤞

If you could add an item to our therapy room to make you feel more comfortable..... what would it be, and why?

06/08/2026

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder or OCD is often overlooked and people live with it for years before diagnosis and treatment. People think they know what OCD is, and it’s often trivialised in the media: “Oh I’m so OCD about X,Y or Z”. People with OCD get stuck in a loop of distressing thoughts, these thoughts tend to be totally out of character for them, thoughts about things they’d never do. These are obsessions. This causes
huge anxiety and distress and leads to behaviours (like checking, handwashing etc) or mental rituals People are compelled to do these until things “feel right” - compulsions.
These compulsions temporarily reduce the anxiety and distress of the thoughts. Then the cycle starts again.
OCD can be hugely debilitating with hours being spent on compulsions- it’s exhausting. It affects work, relationships and mental health.
This week I did some excellent training on OCD. CPD is crucial to work ethically as a therapist.
Follow along for more info.
Get in touch via DM for any questions or queries about working together. Laura 😊

03/08/2026

Exam results! 🫣 Are you or a young person nervously awaiting results tomorrow?

Results bring up a whole host of thoughts and emotions.

Relief. Pride. Excitement. Disappointment. Uncertainty.

Sometimes all of them at once!
As a biology teacher, mum of a teen waiting on results and student in the not too distant past - I can empathise, I get it.

In Cognitive Behavioural Therapy we recognise that our minds are quick to turn a result into a story about who we are:

❌ “I failed, so I’m a failure.”
❌ “I didn’t get the grades I wanted, so my future is ruined.”
❌ “Everyone else is doing better than me.”

But a result is exactly that… a result.

It can open some doors and close others, but it doesn’t define your worth, your intelligence, or your potential.

The people I meet in therapy often discover that some of the biggest opportunities in their lives came from paths they never planned to take.

If you’re receiving results, be kind to yourself. Celebrate your achievements, acknowledge your disappointment if things didn’t go as hoped, and remember that one set of grades is only a small part of your journey. A wee stop to check the map and decide where to go next. It doesn’t all need to be figured out today.

Progress over perfection. Always.
Get in touch if you’d like some company on your journey. 👆👇👉👈

02/08/2026

What’s your favourite soothing or grounding activity? Following on from my other posts this week. Using the senses and taking time to notice what is going on right here in the moment. It’s very difficult to worry or ruminate when your attention is devoted to the current moment. DM me your favourites. Have a wee look at my website 😊 https://www.sisucbttherapy.com/

30/07/2026

Things we can do to focus our attention to the present are using our senses to notice and name out loud the things you can see, hear, touch, taste and smell. This brings the front, thinking part of the brain online to help you think clearly. When we are stressed, anxious or afraid the survival part of the brain kick in. Ever noticed how it’s difficult to think clearly when you’re anxious?
Follow along for more information.

28/07/2026

Hi 👋I’m Laura, a therapist based in Ayr, but also online across the country. Follow me for more information. This account is intended for education and not to replace individual or group therapy with a qualified therapist i.e. me 😊Send me a DM to find out more about how we could work together.

26/07/2026

What a great service. ❤️

We look forward to welcoming our clients back as we return tomorrow the 27th July after our summer break ❤️