Gillian Downie

Hello, I am Gillian Downie, I am a Sesame movement and dramatherapist (practicing since 2000) and Gestalt Psychotherapist (practicing since 2010). Gestalt and Sesame both place embodiment and relationship at the heart of the work. I experience learning as life-long and know that my own way of learning, teaching and facilitating is grounded in embodiment and imagination.

I offer weekly individual therapy sessions to adults. Therapy can be short-term looking at a single issue or can be a deep exploration that lasts many years. Each person is unique and we will create a unique way of working together, finding the right pace for us. The first session will be a chance for us to get to know each other and decide how we proceed.

My belief is that we are all interconnected. When our connection with self, other people or the environment is interrupted or broken in some way, this can lead to many manifestations of disconnection, such as loneliness, overwhelm, people pleasing, a sense of not being ‘good-enough’, shame, or a feeling of not belonging.

Central to my approach is working with interconnection:

·      within ourselves – body, mind, spirit, emotions

·      with the relationship between us - how we create a unique relationship where you can feel safe enough to be yourself

·      with the planet and all that is going on with the world at the moment - how we navigate fear and safety in a changing world

I am committed to furthering the equality of opportunity for people of all abilities, races, faiths, genders, sexual orientations, class and ages. I am interested in difference and how I can be me and you can be you, and how the two of us make contact.

I encourage people to value themselves and see and use their resources. I place emphasis on meeting people where they are and working with what people choose to bring. I can include bodywork, play, dream exploration, myth and story enactment and other creative media in my work with individuals and groups.

I offer creative clinical supervision in groups and individually, as well as group workshops on themes such as shame, narcissism, the wounded healer, attachment, anger, difference and the climate emergency.

I am a founding member of Golden Thread Theatre company, and the art form of spontaneous live theatre feeds into my therapeutic practice.

If you are interested in working together, you can book an introductory phone call or session. Please contact me on gillian.downie33@gmail.com and we can arrange a time.