Alana Breen Psychotherapy, Edinburgh (2025)

16/03/2025

According to the *DSM-5* (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition), depression is characterized by symptoms that persist for at least two weeks and significantly impair daily functioning.

Key symptoms include persistent sadness or a depressed mood, loss of interest or pleasure in activities, changes in appetite or weight, sleep disturbances (insomnia or hypersomnia), fatigue or low energy, feelings of worthlessness or excessive guilt, difficulty concentrating, and recurrent thoughts of death or su***de.

At least five of these symptoms must be present, with at least one being either depressed mood or loss of interest/pleasure.

If you require urgent support please immediately contact your GP in working hours or one of the numbers below:

NHS 24: Tel 111

Breathing Space: Tel: 0800 83 85 87(Mon-Thur 6pm-2am, Fri 6pm-Mon 6am)

Samaritans: Tel: 116 123 (24 hr Freephone number)

Shout: Text 85258 In a crisis? Get help 24/7

16/03/2025

Poor sleep significantly impacts mental health, potentially leading to increased anxiety, depression, irritability, and difficulty with concentration and emotional regulation, as well as potentially worsening existing mental health conditions.

Improving your sleep can improve your mental health.

Resources:
https://sleepaction.org
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/insomnia/

16/03/2025

Poor sleep significantly impacts mental health, potentially leading to increased anxiety, depression, irritability, and difficulty with concentration and emotional regulation, as well as potentially worsening existing mental health conditions.

Improving your sleep can improve your mental health.

Resources:
https://sleepaction.org
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/insomnia/

27/11/2024

🦋Parent Testimonial🦋

*Client‘s initials have been changed to maintain confidentiality*

▫️▫️▫️▫️▫️▫️▫️▫️▫️▫️▫️▫️▫️▫️▫️▫️▫️
I’m grateful to all the parents who entrusted me with their children’s mental health and wellbeing . 💟🦋

It’s been an honour to be part of your journey. 🌹

11/10/2024

If you need mental health support in the UK, you can call the NHS helpline by dialling 111 and then selecting option 2. This will connect you to a mental health professional who can provide assistance. The service is available 24/7 and is designed to offer immediate support, advice, and guidance for mental health concerns.

Please ensure you’re in a safe space when you make the call, and don’t hesitate to reach out for help❤

24/07/2024

🦋Parent Testimonial🦋

I’m grateful to all the parents who entrusted me with their children’s mental health and wellbeing . 💟🦋

It’s been an honour to be part of your journey. 🌹

***Client‘s initials have been changed to maintain confidentiality.***

06/07/2024

🦋Client Testimonial🦋

I’m grateful for all the clients that let me walk alongside them on their self development and personal-growth journey to wholeness and healing. 💟🦋

It’s been an honour to be part of your therapeutic journey. 🌹

***Client‘s initials have been changed to maintain confidentiality.***

24/03/2024

🦋Client Testimonial🦋

I’m grateful for all the clients that let me walk alongside them on their self development and personal-growth journey to wholeness and healing. 💟🦋

It’s been an honour to be part of your therapeutic journey. 🌹

***Client‘s initials have been changed to maintain confidentiality.***

03/12/2023

Anxiety often involves cognitive distortions where it tends to overestimate the danger (perceived threat) and underestimate one's ability to cope (underestimating coping).

When we feel anxious, we tend to have what are called catastrophic thoughts. These tend to involve imaging the worst possible scenario. We also tend to assume that this scenario is definitely going to happen.

The anxiety we feel when we anticipate things going wrong can be reduced if we believe in our resilience and ability to cope. It can also be reduced if we believe that people would come to our aid and be supportive. These are moderating factors.

The degree of anxiety we feel is dependent on :
- How likely we think something bad will happen
- How awful the outcome would be if it did happen
- How much we believe that we could cope
- How much support we think we would get from others

When you experience high levels of anxiety it might be helpful to understand your own ‘anxiety equation’, and then re-evaluate it.

There are many techniques and approaches in CBT; different ones work for different people. The anxiety equation is one way of beginning to consider an alternative way of looking at what distresses you.

09/10/2023

⏳Waitlist. Contact to join the list for in-person and online therapy.

Currently, I am experiencing a high demand for appointments, and as a result, I have implemented a waiting list to accommodate new patient inquiries. Despite the waitlist, I am pleased to inform you that I can still offer initial consultations to new clients.

I offer a free, informal and confidential initial consultation via Zoom call (online). This provides you with the opportunity to ask questions, meet me, learn about my work, and decide if I am the right therapist for you. This call will last approximately 15-30 minutes.

While this initial appointment does not require you to join the waitlist, please note that follow-up sessions might have a waiting period.

Thank you for your patience and understanding.

02/10/2023

🦋 Client Testimonial 🦋

Lovely words and great reflection from my beautiful client who recently completed her therapeutic journey with me. ❤️

Your words, your thoughts, your trust and your feedback are my true reward. ✨

I’m grateful for all the clients that let me walk alongside them on their self development and personal growth journey to wholeness and healing. 💟🦋

It’s been an honour to be part of your therapeutic journey. 🌹

***Client‘s initials have been changed to maintain confidentiality.***

16/08/2023

Marshall Rosenberg developed Nonviolent Communication (NVC), a communication process emphasizing empathy and understanding. In NVC, anger is viewed as a signal of unmet needs.

Instead of blaming or criticizing, Rosenberg suggested identifying the underlying needs causing the anger and finding constructive ways to address them. This approach helps foster healthier communication and conflict resolution by focusing on needs rather than assigning fault.

In this context, each emotion we feel is connected to a specific need we have, such as the need for connection, respect, understanding, or security. By recognizing and understanding our emotions, we can identify the underlying needs that are not being fulfilled.

This understanding can then guide us to communicate our needs more effectively and work towards finding solutions that meet those needs in a positive and constructive manner.

What is your usual response to being hurt, annoyed or irritated by another person? Do you swear? Do you smash plates? Do you withdraw within yourself? Do you tell that person how wrong (insensitive, selfish, etc.) she or he is?

What is the unmet need behind your feeling?

Alana Breen Psychotherapy

16/03/2025

16/03/2025

16/03/2025

27/11/2024

11/10/2024

24/07/2024

06/07/2024

24/03/2024

03/12/2023

09/10/2023

02/10/2023

16/08/2023

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