Elaine Macha

Through compassion, affirmation, and unconditional positive regard we build a relationship where you feel safe, heard and accepted. Within this safe space, you can explore traumatic experiences or difficulties in your life, along with associated thoughts and feelings. You set goals and makes choices regarding the direction your therapy takes. Through the experience of being seen and heard you can soothe feelings of hurt, loss and confusion.

Using psychoeducation you develop understanding of how your body has developed triggering responses to threat or fear, and you grow in awareness of how your body and mind work together to influence your felt experiences.

Using creative approaches I enable you to explore your thoughts and feelings from the 3rd person. Using drawing, games, images, sand and stones, you develop skills in communicating and managing your feelings. You develop strategies in emotional self-regulation and further explore feared and hidden emotions.

In the therapeutic space I support you with a deep congruent presence of my true self, being fully present and authentic in the therapeutic space. As you feel safe and can work with deep emotions, you experience new physiological and affective relational experiences giving new meaning and initiating healing of internalised emotions.

I intentionally affirm and validate you and your identified strengths and qualities along with the impact of your experiences. You are empowered to explore your self-beliefs, and grow in self-understanding of protective relational patterns. You reconnect with your core values, and make meaningful shifts which empower you to emotional well-being.

As a UK psychotherapist in private practice I work extensively both online and face to face. I assist clients dealing with anxiety, low mood, unprocessed trauma, low self-esteem, attachment, depression, relationship difficulty and issues affecting sense of self and personal autonomy. I am passionate about helping each unique individual explore their self-beliefs, reconnect with their core values, and make meaningful shifts toward emotional well-being. I consider it a privilege to help clients gain insight into their attachment styles and relational patterns, which allows them to understand how these dynamics influence their lives. Clients grow into healthier, more conscious relationships which enable them to flourish in their life journeys.

I qualified as a UK Counsellor and Psychotherapist in 2021, with my Postgraduate Diploma in Counselling and Psychotherapy from Leeds Beckett University. I have now completed over 2500 hours of supervised therapeutic work with adults and young people. I have previously worked with children and teens with behavioural issues in education, and I hold a further Diploma in Counselling for Children and Adolescents. I have used counselling skills and talking therapy in my work with both adults and adolescents since 2000, with my Counselling Skills Certificate. In line with safeguarding requirements I hold a UK Enhanced DBS and a NL VOG Certificate.

Further professional development in 2025 includes: Emotional Focused Therapy (Couples), with Dr. S Johnson; and Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, with Pat Ogden & Hanneke Kalisvaart. Professional development in 2024 includes; Trauma Traces with Prof. Dr. Bessel van der Kolk and ACT Essentials (Acceptance & Commitment Therapy). In addition to my Counselling qualifications I hold a MA in Education, Health Promotion and International Development along with a BSc Hons in Biological Sciences.