SCT Therapy

30/09/2025

I often work with people who because of their mental or physical ill health have needed to take time off work; often substantial life changing time off work. More recently I was inspired to write more about the experience of returning to work. I hope you'll enjoy my latest blog:

Finding Hope: Reclaiming Your Power on the Road Back to Work - A Guide for Navigating Your Return To Work After Mental or Physical Health Setbacks

Who’s this blog for?

This blog is for anyone on the journey of bouncing back from mental or physical health challenges and gearing up to re-join the world of work. It will also help the colleagues, managers and the employers of those who are returning to work after long-term illness.

It’s inspired by the resilient people I've had the pleasure of supporting at .com - people who've faced adversity head-on and come out stronger.

Why should you keep reading?

Inside, you’ll discover down-to-earth answers to the questions people often don't know (or dare) to ask, honest insights into the emotional rollercoaster of returning to work, and a toolkit of practical strategies to help you rebuild confidence and seize change.

Returning to work isn’t just about picking up where you left off—it’s about rediscovering who you are, finding your feet again, and learning new ways to thrive in your professional life.

Yes, it’s daunting at times, but with the right guidance and support, it can be a springboard for resilience and personal growth. You’re not treading this path alone; others have blazed the trail before you, and there’s a helping hand at every turn.

https://www.scttherapy.com/post/finding-hope-reclaiming-your-power-on-the-road-back-to-work

Let me know your thoughts and if you've ever experienced this, or supported someone back to work.

A Guide for Navigating Your Return To Work After Mental or Physical Health SetbacksWho’s this blog for?This blog is for anyone on the journey of bouncing back from mental or physical health challenges and gearing up to re-join the world of work. It’s inspired by the resilient people I've had the...

28/05/2025

I’m delighted to share the start of a wonderful collaboration with Stu Rouse, an expert in attachment-focused parenting and behavioural intervention with over 20 years of experience.

Stu provides psychosocial education to improve outcomes for children, young people, and their families, often collaborating with local authorities' children's services. His services include therapeutic parenting support and family intervention based on dyadic development psychotherapy principles, helping prevent family relationship breakdowns.

Specialising in working with 'hard to reach' young people and families in crisis, including adoptive families, Stu simplifies attachment principles for better understanding. He works individually with young people, demonstrating attuned care principles, and helps parents apply these skills to their relationships. Stu consistently receives positive feedback from those he assists and aims to make a significant positive impact.

Stu brings a wealth of expertise in:
• Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy
• Experiences in the principles of Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
• Solution Focused Brief Therapy – a short-term therapy which focuses on setting goals and working out how to achieve them. With this therapy, it’s about the future rather that the past and promotes change by encouraging the client to focus on what they can do rather than what they can’t.
• Triple P Parenting – a multi-level system of support aimed at preventing and treating social, emotional and behaviour problems in children and giving parents the tools and understanding to manage their behaviour effectively.

Stu is DBS Certified (number 001568350029) and is a member of the Institute of Youth Work Professional Registration Number: 1809-4262. Stu covers much of the Northeast Region and his fees are £110 per hour.

If you’d like more information on how Stu can help you, your child or someone you know then please get in touch with Stu using the contact form on my website or call him direct on 07736236496. Alternatively, you can email him at stuart@osteopathyandtherapy.co.uk.

12/05/2025

Very proud to receive this certificate today. As a Bronze Award Employer with the Armed Forces Covenant since 2022, it's always an honour to support and show commitment to our Armed Forces.

01/04/2025

It's great to read a great read... sharing this with you if you fancy a good crime novel and celebrating the launch of this amazing book for my wonderful friend Helen Aitchison Writes Write on the Tyne. It's going to be amazing and I can't wait for the next in what I hope will be a series tracking the cases of these wonderful characters ###.

Full review:
Somebody's Nobody evoked a range of emotions, even to the point where I desperately wanted the murderer to evade discovery. It also prompted deeper reflection on victims, perpetrators, and how investigations are handled from the investigating team’s perspective. Helen’s extensive knowledge, gained from years of working in social care, with individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds, shines through, adding layers of detail that many authors often miss.

I’ve been a fan of Helen’s writing since The Dinner Club, where I fell in love with the characters. I’ve now added these new characters to my list of favourites, and I hope there are more to come. Similar to The 31 Days of May, Helen addresses complex and extreme mental health topics, including trauma. This time, she also explores the adverse effects of alcohol and drugs on individuals and families, as well as the despicable individuals who ruin lives by pushing drugs on vulnerable people. While other writers might avoid these issues, Helen shares her considerable knowledge and understanding in a stimulating and captivating way. It’s a challenging read at times but cleverly written in a unique style that keeps the reader guessing, without relying on unnecessary twists at the end.

Like Helen’s other books, I read this one in just a few sittings, and I had to force myself to put it down at times to get to work on time. I loved it and hope there are more books in Helen’s head, so the delightful Ericson comes out of retirement, and we learn more about Polly too. I can’t help but hope that the murderer (no spoilers) gets the help, support, and peace they need to recover from a terrible childhood.

31/12/2024

Wishing you all a very happy New Year - let's thrive in '25 ###.

10/11/2024

It's been a while, I know... but I've been busy adding to my therapeutic toolkit and I'm delighted to introduce an incredible new service to SCT Therapy, as an approved Safe Sound Protocol (SSP) practitioner and provider.

SSP is an evidence-based listening therapy, developed by Dr Stephen Porges, and the practical application of Polyvagal Theory (the science of feeling safe). The therapy activates a persons social engagement system, helping to accelerate and enhance therapeutic outcomes.

Perfect for the work I do with my wonderful clients as it acts as a non-invasive acoustic vagal nerve stimulator, helping to retune the nervous system to a calm and regulated state. The SSP has demonstrated benefits to people with trauma, anxiety, sensory processing differences and much much more.

Exciting stuff - get in touch if you'd like to know more 😊.

19/09/2024

With Helen Aitchison Writes – I just got recognised as one of their top fans! 🎉. I’m accepting my badge with honour for this amazing author and all round gorgeous person 🥰###.

18/09/2024

So brilliant to be part of this with Lauren Mcwilliams- Brand Photographer & Strategist

15/09/2024

This will be an amazing event - the written word is beyond powerful and when linked to wellbeing and the lovely Helen Aitchison Writes you're in for a treat ###.

I’m at the brilliant Word next weekend, delivering a writing retreat! If you’re interested in learning about the process of writing poetry, short stories, and novels, as well as participating in some gentle exercises, come along! 🧡

https://theworduk.org/whats-on/writing-for-wellbeing-retreat-with-helen-aitchison/

14/09/2024

Reflections of a Therapist

It’s a while since I’ve had the chance to hop on here and post anything, but as I’ve just sighed a big sigh, it reminded me of something that happened this week and I want to share it with you.

Have a check of my latest blog for more information - I hope you like it:

https://www.scttherapy.com/post/what-s-in-a-sigh

10/05/2024

Just sharing my latest article about the power of Testimonials in LinkedIn... I hope you enjoy it.

One of the goals of undergoing therapy should always be around improving our quality of life, daily.

So, what are you doing today to improve your quality of life? I’m meeting a new client, working with a current client then off for a weekend of gardening – my happy place.

Have a lovely day and a great weekend ###.

26/04/2024

Here’s a thought – what happens when a person has therapy and makes the changes they want to make, to overcome the difficulties they’ve endured for months or even years?

What happens when years of stress and anxiety, or trauma, or even patterns of burnout are processed and desensitised, to the extent they no longer cause distress and disturbance to that person?

Is that person still the same person? Absolutely – but perhaps with some safer boundaries in place, a greater knowledge of living autonomously, self-belief, ability to self-care and improved resilience.

Are the people around them impacted by the changes? Highly likely – change is a natural part of any relationship, whether familial, intimate, social, or work-related, and as it evolves, so do the dynamics of that relationship.

Check out my blog post to learn more about the challenges and adjustments that surround this transition of change and new behaviours/dynamics in relationships: https://wix.to/y34FtNL

Here’s a thought – what happens when a person has therapy and makes the changes they want to make, to overcome the difficulties they’ve endured for months or even years? What happens when years of stress and anxiety, or trauma, or even patterns of burnout are processed and desensitised, to the...