About Lorna Allport
My Journey as a counsellor
My previous job had left me bored, unfulfilled, and feeling that I had much more to offer. I wanted to be able to support people who were experiencing difficulties or injustices or struggling to cope with life in general, and felt particularly drawn to families who had endured domestic abuse. As a starting point, I trained with the Scottish Domestic Helpline service to offer callers support and advice over the telephone. In conjunction with this, I gained a position supporting individuals with learning difficulties, mental health issues and challenging behaviour.
Around this time I suffered bereavement in my personal life, with which I struggled to cope while supporting my two young children. Thankfully, I was offered counselling, which had a very positive impact on me and helped me to live again.
From my own positive experience, the benefits of counselling and my work in supporting others, I knew that I had found my vocation in life and that the next stage of my journey would be to train as a counsellor. I studied at Glasgow Caledonian University and the University of Strathclyde and achieved a Postgraduate Diploma in Counselling. I am a member of the BACP. During my course I undertook counselling practice at Anniesland College, where I gained extensive experience working with student clients from all age groups. I continue to work in an education setting and have gained valuable experience from working with children in a high school.
Since then I have never looked back, and am highly committed to my role as a counsellor. I feel extremely privileged to accompany my clients on their journeys of self-discovery and to facilitate their progress towards fulfilment in their lives. In conjunction with my private practice, since 2014 I have also provided counselling at St Andrews Hospice, where I have acquired particular experience of working with the bereaved and those who are anticipating bereavement. Having felt very fulfilled in this role, I have continued to work in a hospice setting.
I have worked with a wide range of clients over both short and long-term periods, and with clients enduring various psychological disturbances. I am very interested and specialist in treating trauma and PTSD by using EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) which I incorporate into my practice. I enjoy keeping up to date with new approaches and developments in counselling research and theory. I also enjoy the new challenges and experience that each individual client brings. Outside of work, my hobbies include cooking, reading, travelling, outdoor activities and socialising with friends and family. I have travelled extensively throughout Asia, Australia, North America and the South Pacific.
I have also undertaken the following training:
EMDR level 1,2 and 3
EMDR Accreditation
BACP Accreditation
Advanced training in trauma, abuse and dissociation.
Advanced domestic abuse training.
Advanced spirituality and bereavement training.
Certificate in couple counselling.
MBSR in mindfulness.
HND in children's counselling
CBT training - CBT is very useful for the more focused client and be useful in the short term.
Since then, I have never looked back and am highly committed to my role as a psychotherapist. I feel extremely privileged to accompany my clients on their journeys of self-discovery and to facilitate their progress towards fulfilment in their lives. In conjunction with my private practice, I have also provided counselling at St Andrews Hospice and St Margaret of Scotland Hospice, where I have acquired extensive experience of working with the bereaved and those who are anticipating bereavement. I also gained experience working in an educational setting with Place2be and gained a qualification in child counselling.
Are you ready to book an appointment with Lorna?
Contact MeFees
Face to Face individual counselling in Kirkintilloch - £80
Face to Face individual counselling in Shawlands - £80
Couples Counselling - £80
Telephone & video counselling - £80
EMDR - £80
What my clients say about me
I came to Lorna for counselling and had EMDR therapy, which she recommended. I’d never heard of it before and wasn’t sure how it worked, but Lorna took the time to explain everything clearly, step by step, so I felt confident in the process. I followed her guidance, and my goodness, it was worth it. My disturbance levels are now at 0.
I didn’t know how many sessions it would take, but I was willing to do the work to feel better—and I’m so glad I did. Lorna was the perfect choice. I currently don’t visit her for therapy sessions as there’s no need—my goals have been achieved—but knowing I have someone like Lorna to turn to in the future gives me so much peace of mind.
At such a young age, I’ve learned how to overcome trauma and keep my mental health strong, all thanks to Lorna. She taught me how to stay grounded and prepared for whatever challenges might come my way. She’s a lovely person with a kind, calm, and welcoming nature. Her home office was such a comfortable and safe space, which made a huge difference.
I’d recommend Lorna to anyone looking to work through trauma—big or small. As I enter the festive season, a time that used to trigger old traumas, I feel completely at peace. I’ve reflected on those past events and feel zero disturbance or negative emotions. They’re just that: past events. Now, I can truly move forward with my life. (MS)
Doing EMDR with Lorna has completely transformed my life, and I wish I had done it sooner. I have been suffering from functional seizures and fatigue for many years, which have been completely debilitating, and through my own research began to suspect that this illness is linked to childhood trauma. My ‘trauma’ is not one event but instead relates to a difficult relationship with my parents throughout childhood, so I was unsure as to how this could be treated through EMDR. Lorna and I started off with quite a few traditional therapy sessions to understand the nature of the trauma better and work out what ‘target’ memories I would use, and then we did several EMDR sessions on two different target memories. The effect on my life has been totally transformative - I have more energy now, and when I feel a seizure coming on I often break down into tears instead. I feel as though I am finally turning this trauma into a healthier grief, and when I reflect on painful childhood memories, I feel sadness rather the intense anxiety that I have carried with me through my adult life. I can’t recommend this therapeutic process and Lorna’s expertise highly enough. (India).
My experience with Lorna has been remarkable and if I hadn't had found her services, I would probably be in a very different place today.
I have been seeing Lorna for almost two years now (I think). Using a combination of different coping strategies, meditations, EMDR and exercises, she has helped me contextualise and overcome some serious difficulties and traumas.
Most importantly, Lorna has listened to my changing mental and emotional needs month to month and has adapted her therapy accordingly. When I have needed to talk, we have just talked, when I have needed to remove bodily trauma, we have tried EMDR. When I've needed to calm down, we've used multiple meditation techniques.
I came to Lorna with a list of things to discuss that were holding me back from being able to enjoy my life. My therapy sessions with her have helped me change that today and we have covered all ground. Throughout the process she has been sensitive, patient, professional and kind.
All factors listed above have helped me move forwards. It hasn't felt immediate, and therapy wasn't a quick fix. Lorna helped me start to see things in a different way and implement boundaries, often without me even realising it. It was a subtle and natural change, and it took time.
I can't recommend Lorna enough. I've seen quite a few therapists in the past and I think the reason I stuck with Lorna comes down to her genuine ability to really really listen & to adapt her help and methods to what she is hearing. In addition to all of that, she's just a really lovely person.
Thanks for everything Lorna! (NJ)