Approach
My counselling approach and practice is based on an integrative perspective to counselling. The integrative counselling approach is based on the learning and teaching of the Psychodynamic and Person Centred approaches to counselling.
Person Centred counselling focuses on the value of the therapeutic relationship and core values in counselling such as respect and empathy. The Person Centred approach believes in a person’s ability to change based on certain core conditions provided in counselling. To feel listened to and truly heard can lead us to a greater level of self awareness. Psychodynamic principles offer an understanding of how the past events in our lives may have affected our life and our relationships today. By bringing these relationships into focus, we can begin to understand why we see things in a certain way. This offers an opportunity to consider how our past experiences may have influenced relationships today.
I offer a safe and professional counselling service which that adheres to the Code of Ethics and Practice as a counsellor with The British Association of Counselling. I have been an accredited counsellor with BACP since September 1998. I continue to develop my counselling training by regularly taking part in CPD activities to inform my practice.
Supervision is an important part of my work as a counsellor. In line with BACP guidelines I meet with my supervisor on a monthly basis to discuss my work as a counsellor and to have space to explore my work with clients in a confidential setting.
Experience
Based in Edinburgh, I first established working in private practice in 2012. I offer short and long term counselling meeting weekly or fortnightly online and face to face. In addition to my counselling experience, I previously worked as a mental health nurse for 9 years; this training and experience informs my practice as a counsellor, enabling me to support clients who wish to discuss their mental health. I also have knowledge of psychotropic drugs used for depression and anxiety.
My previous career posts have included working as a staff counsellor within the NHS, as a counsellor within primary care working alongside GP’s, and I have worked as a student counsellor and mental health mentor within academic settings. I have also worked with voluntary counselling organisations and Employee Assistant Programme’s within organisations. Below is a comprehensive list of my experience.
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Developing counselling services in Fife Primary Care and supervising trainee counsellors on placement
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Offering counselling to NHS staff at Forth Valley and Edinburgh
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Developing and offering counselling services in Newcastle trust in a GP practice
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Trainer for Cruse Bereavement Care Scotland
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Mental health mentor at Edinburgh University
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Student counsellor at Heriot Watt University & other Scottish Universities
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Member of the counselling team at The Scottish Institute of Human Relations, Edinburgh
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Working with Employee Assistance Programmes providing counselling in Scotland and England
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Working as a freelance counsellor since 2012 offering short and long term counselling and supervision to qualified counsellors and trainee counsellors.
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