About
Welcome to my web page my name is Sharon Doherty, I'm a counsellor and therapeutic yoga teacher. When working with clients I offer a holistic somatic approach to counselling and yoga individually, and where appropriate, I combine the benefits of yoga practices and counselling to offer a trauma informed yoga therapy approach to explore sensitive and complex issues in a safe space.
As a counsellor my specialism is supporting clients recover from the complicated nature of narcissistic relationships. I have also developed a particular interest in helping clients living with the ongoing physical and mental health issues attributed to an autoimmune condition.
You can visit my LinkedIn, Yoga Alliance Professionals, Counselling Directory and BACP profiles to learn more about me and how I work.
Individual Counselling
My passion for counselling adults and young people with a range of presenting issues comes from the personal challenges and life experiences I have faced in an age where counselling services and support was not as available as it is now.
My hope is to offer early intervention support to clients so they can start therapy sessions, without lengthy waiting times.
I have consulting rooms in Shotts and Glasgow.
Family Counselling
Families spending time with a counsellor can explore issues and better understand children's intentions and individual behaviour and the ways this can influence wider family dynamics.
There are many ways challenges and differences between adults and children within your family can show up including: confusion, conflict and misbehaviour.
Time in family therapy can be a safe place to identify and explore the meaning of these differences and begin the process of working together to find an appropriate solution.
I can offer family counselling appointments in Glasgow.
Supervision
I work with supervisees from voluntary and statutory organisations as well those in private practice to support and expand their edge of awareness as a professional counsellor or practitioner.
I encourage and support reflection and development around; legal issues, safeguarding, theoretical knowledge, ethical dilemmas and development of self awareness.
I offer clinical supervision in Glasgow and Shotts to practitioners from a range of modalities.
Therapeutic Yoga
Is a one to one trauma informed and embodied approach that integrates counselling and specific yoga practices to regulate the autonomic nervous system. This is especially useful when working with a range of physical and mental health issues
Working therapeutically 1:1 involves a consultation to understand your health and lifestyle needs, and helps inform which yoga practices would best support you. All sessions are respectful of your your body and it's existing range of movement and are adapted to help rehabilitate any injury.
In my practice the most common presentations are:
Anxiety
When practiced regularly, the individual combination of grounding, breath practices, yoga postures and relaxation balance and regulate the heightened "fight/flight" response of nervous system to be more able to access the parasympathetic nervous system or "rest and digest". These practices help to reduce the physical and mental and emotional symptoms of anxiety: poor sleep, shaking, restlessness, muscle tension, nausea, digestive problems, sweating, shortness of breath, palpitations, panic attacks, tiredness, negative thought cycles, excessive worry, poor focus and concentration, forgetfulness and irritability.
Depression
Clients experiencing depression can live with an everchanging range of emotional, physical and mental states that can have a significant impact on daily living. Depression can be characterised by persistent: low mood or sadness, low self-esteem, feeling hopeless and helpless, anxious or worried, guilt ridden, tearful and feeling irritable and intolerant toward others. Some common examples of physical symptoms include: disturbed sleep, lack of energy, changes in appetite and weight, unexplained aches and pains and low sex drive. Mental function can be impaired to varying degrees making it more difficult for clients to: make decisions, enjoy life and show motivation or interest and some clients can experience thoughts of self-harm or suicide. Research has indicated that clients experiencing depression show higher levels of the stress hormone cortisol and lower levels of key neurotransmitters, working regularly with specific yoga practices will begin to regulate the nervous system and alleviate the unwanted symptoms.
Trauma
Trauma symptoms can be complex, clients often report a range of physical, mental and emotional experiences. These can include disturbed sleep, nightmares or insomnia, flashbacks, repetitive distressing images and physical sensations including trembling, aches and pains,sweating and nausea, these can also contribute to difficulty concentrating and irritability and anger outbursts. These can occur immediately after a traumatic event or can be triggered at a later time. Working therapeutically with with individual yoga practices and counselling interventions equips clients with the tools to balance and regulate the movement between sympathetic and parasympathetic responses helps to build “vagal tone”, this means the clients nervous system has the capacity to develop more resilience and tolerance to internal and external stressors.
If you recognise individually or a combination of any of the above therapeutic yoga will equip you with the skills to address and self regulate the stress response in bodily systems and physiology and move from "fight/flight" (sympathetic NS) to "rest and digest" (parasympathetic NS).Home practice between sessions is an essential part of the process of restoring homeostasis in the body and effecting lasting change.
August Self Care: Pranayama
Pranayama - the Art of Breath for Mind, Body & Spirit
Discover the ancient science of Pranayama, the yogic practice of conscious breath control. Pranayama is a cornerstone of yogic living and a profound tool for transformation. Whether you're looking to reduce stress, boost vitality, or deepen your spiritual connection, undertaking regular pranayama practice can support your yogic journey.
What is Pranayama?
Prana means “life force,” and ayama means “to extend or control.” Pranayama is more than deep breathing—it’s a precise method of harnessing your breath to influence your energy, emotions, and overall wellbeing.
Benefits of Pranayama?
The power of the breath, through specific techniques, you can:
- Calm the nervous system
- Improve concentration
- Strengthen immunity
- Release emotional blockages
- Enhance spiritual awareness
- Reduce anxiety & stress
- Improve lung capacity & oxygen flow
- Increase mental clarity & focus
- Support meditation & mindfulness
- Boost energy and vitality
- Balance the doshas (Vata, Pitta, Kapha)
- Improves sleep
- Reduces HBP
Autonomic Nervous System & Cardiovascular Effects
Slow, controlled pranayama shifts the balance of the autonomic nervous system toward parasympathetic dominance, reducing heart rate and blood pressure, and improving baroreceptor sensitivity.
A four‑ to six‑week practice reduced resting heart rate from ~89 bpm to ~83 bpm and improved systolic blood pressure responses during stress tests.
In studies of asthma and hypertension patients, significant improvements were observed in pulse rate, systolic blood pressure, and pulmonary function, leading to reduced medication requirements and enhanced quality of life.
Respiratory System & Pulmonary Function
Regular practice improves lung capacity and airflow: studies showed increased vital capacity (VC), forced expiratory volume (FEV₁), peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR), and FEV₁/FVC ratios in both slow and fast pranayama practitioners.
Benefits extend to clinical populations with asthma and COPD—with reductions in symptoms, exacerbation frequency, and measurable improvements in forced breathing parameters.
Biochemical & Metabolic Changes
Enhanced antioxidant defenses with lower oxidative stress: increased superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels and lower free radicals following rhythmic yogic breathing, notably in athletes exposed to exhaustive exercise.
Salivary proteomic studies identified acute-time increases in biomarkers like DMBT1 and IGLC2 during pranayama practice (elevated tenfold within 10–15 minutes), suggesting rapid biochemical changes.
Neurophysiological & Brainwave Effects
Breath retention and slow diaphragmatic breathing have been found to increase theta- and delta‑wave activity (via EEG), which are associated with parasympathetic calm and meditative states.
Functional brain studies indicate timing effects on cerebral oxygenation and blood volume matching breathing rates, suggesting entrainment of cerebral perfusion during controlled pranayama.
Stress Response & Hormonal Regulation
A randomized controlled trial of Bhramari pranayama in adolescents showed adaptive stress response: higher cortisol during acute stress exposure followed by a faster drop below baseline levels by 60 minutes, pointing to increased resilience.
Psychological and Well‑Being Benefits
Chronic conditions like hypertension, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and diabetes saw improvements in stress, anxiety, sleep quality, fatigue, and overall emotional well‑being in controlled trials.
Systematic reviews support benefits across physiological, respiratory, psychological, and metabolic domains, though most trials are moderate in quality and vary in methodology.
Safety Considerations & Risks
Fast pranayama techniques like Kapalabhati and Bhastrika, especially when practiced incorrectly or in vulnerable individuals, may lead to hyperventilation, increased sympathetic activation, and even rare cases of pneumothorax.
Individuals with respiratory hypersensitivity, such as asthma, may experience bronchospasm during deep inhalation, so proper technique and supervision are essential.
Beginners may start with Nadi Shodhana or Ujjayi
For energy and detox, try Kapalabhati or Bhastrika
For stress and sleep, explore Bhramari or Sheetali
