Mary O'Neill
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This professional has no current availability for new clients. Please enquire with them directly to discuss availability.
This professional has no current availability for new clients. Please enquire with them directly to discuss availability.
About me
These are stressful times and you may be getting anxious about loved ones, your health, work and businesses. It can help to talk through things with a counsellor to take time and space to talk about fears and worries in a way that is difficult to do with friends and family.
I hope to offer an environment where you can take time to explore the issues that are troubling you.
How long we work together will depend on the issue, but my aim is to help you gain an insight into your situation and to help you understand how best to move forward.
I specialise in helping people who are experiencing a hostile work environment, it may be the result of unacceptable behaviour (harassment or workplace bullying), excessive workload or a difficult colleague.
EMDR and Trauma treatment
I also offer Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) for the treatment of trauma. This is an evidence based treatment for PTSD and so if you are troubled by PTSD symptoms such as flashbacks, nightmares and constant anxiety then you might want to consider this treatment. It is highly effective at reducing symptoms and I am often amazed at the positive impact it has on clients.
If you are struggling with a traumatic experience you may want to consider EMDR, I offer an adaptation of EMDR - EMDR Flash which is a gentle treatment that allows the desensitisation of painful memories without the need for description, discussion or even recollection. It is very good for reducing symptoms and stopping nightmares and flashbacks. It is normally the starting point before proceeding to EMDR.
If you have experienced a traumatic event such as a car accident, assault (sexual or physical) or if you are suffering from a trauma after witnessing a tragic event then, EMDR is an extremely effective treatment to help you resolve the fear and anxiety that remains after the event. If you find unpleasant memories are haunting you, then perhaps you might consider EMDR.
EMDR is also an effective treatment for Phobias
Counselling and EMDR is offered to Adults (16+)
I also offer counselling via Zoom .
More about me
I established my private practice in Edinburgh (Amaranth Counselling) and when I moved to East Lothian in 2010 I started working in Cockenzie. I now see clients at my premises in the Cockenzie Business Centre on the Edinburgh Road.
I have a Masters degree in TA counselling which explored the dynamics of workplace bullying and the effectiveness of counselling for clients experiencing this problem. I am currently researching this issue further and have recently established a coaching service aimed at coaching abrasive managers. As a member of the International Association for Workplace Bullying and Harassment, (IAWBH) a research based community focussing on the issue of Bullying and Harassment. I have recently published a research paper in collaboration with my colleague Denise Borland on the impact of workplace bullying on people.
I was a post doctoral research fellow at Edinburgh University and worked in scientific research (genetics and microbiology).
I work part time as a lecturer of physiology and human biology at Edinburgh College and therefore, for ethical reasons, I am unable to work with any member of staff from the college and any student based at Milton Road Campus.
I use my extensive knowledge of human physiology to help clients deal with feelings of anxiety and to help understand the nature of trauma.
Training, qualifications & experience
- BACP Accredited Counsellor and Psychotherapist
- EMDR Accredited Practitioner
- MSc in TA Counselling; Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh
- Diploma in TA Counselling
- Lecturer (retired) in Human Biology and Physiology at Edinburgh College.
Educational Qualifications
MSc Transactional Analysis Counselling
PhD (Genetics)
Professional Bodies
BACP: British association for Counselling and Psychotherapy
STAA: Scottish Transactional Analysis Association
EMDR Assoc.
Member organisations
Being registered/accredited with a professional body means an individual must have achieved a substantial level of training and experience approved by their member organisation.
BACP is one of the UK’s leading professional bodies for counselling and psychotherapy with around 60,000 members. The Association has several different categories of membership, including Student Member, Individual Member, Registered Member MBACP, Registered Accredited Member MBACP (Accred) and Senior Registered Accredited Member MBACP (Snr Acccred).
Registered and accredited members are listed on the BACP Register, which shows that they have demonstrated BACP’s recommended standards for training, proficiency and ethical practice. The BACP Register was the first register of psychological therapists to be accredited by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA).
Accredited and senior accredited membership are voluntary categories for members who choose to undertake a rigorous application and assessment process to demonstrate additional standards around practice, training and supervision.
Individual members will have completed an appropriate counselling or psychotherapy course and started to practise, but they won’t appear on the BACP Register until they've demonstrated that they meet the standards for registration. Student members are still in the process of completing their training.
All members are bound by the BACP Ethical Framework and a Professional Conduct Procedure.
EMDR UK
Accredited register membership
The Accredited Register Scheme was set up in 2013 by the Department of Health (DoH) as a way to recognise organisations that hold voluntary registers which meet certain standards. These standards are set by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA).
This therapist has indicated that they belong to an Accredited Register.
Areas of counselling I deal with
Other areas of counselling I deal with
Workplace Bullying and Harassment
Therapies offered
Fees
£60.00 per session
Concessions offered for
Health Insurance/EAP
Additional information
£60/hour Counselling and EMDR and EMDR Flash treatment
I offer a 20% reduction to students, unwaged and those on state pension.
If you are a key worker (particularly NHS or Care Home staff) and are experiencing trauma from dealing with the Covid-19 outbreak then please get in touch to discuss EMDR Flash therapy at a reduced rate. This is an effective and rapid treatment for trauma that can be done online.
When I work
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Tuesday afternoon is online counselling only
Wednesday and Thursday is online or in person
Further information
I am particularly keen to work with individuals who have experienced workplace bullying.
Targets of Bullying often feel worthless and lose confidence in themselves, they experience the bully as critical and blaming and if nothing is done to help then the organisation is perceived to be ineffective and condoning of the bullying behaviour.
Counselling is helpful in restoring confidence and the client is able to get insight into the dynamic.
You may feel that counselling will not be helpful because it will not solve the problem and make the bully stop, BUT it does improve your confidence by giving you insight and knowledge into the bullying dynamic.
Don't suffer in silence, bullying is damaging to your health and while it might seem unfair that you have to get help rather than the bully be assured that the insight you gain from counselling will be helpful and effective.
