Alison Shoemark

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Available for new clients
Available for new clients

This professional is available for new clients.

Banchory, Kincardineshire, AB31
Available for new clients
Available for new clients

This professional is available for new clients.

About me

As a person centred counsellor I aim to meet clients in the spirit of transparency and mutuality, offering a safe and therapeutic environment within which  concerns that are causing distress or unease can be explored. I have a background in nursing and extensive experience in palliative care and bereavement counselling. For many years I have worked with people who have experienced abuse including the extremes of sexual, physical and psychological trauma. Mindfulness has been a key element of my development as a person and as a counsellor.

My spirituality is central to who I am and I regularly practice Mindfulness and Meditation; I became interested in meditation during my own counsellor training in the mid 80's and, with its focus on kindness, genuineness, acceptance and gentle, non-judgemental curiosity, I find it invaluable in supporting my awareness of my inner world and in bringing me closer to an ever deepening self acceptance.

I work from home in a peaceful and quiet village between Aberdeen and Banchory.

I have made the decision to stop face to face counselling and would like to offer telephone, Zoom or as an alternative and I do hope that will be acceptable given this particular situation.

Please do email me if there's anything else you'd like to know.

Training, qualifications & experience

I have a background in nursing and specialised in palliative care, working in a hospice and then in the community as a Macmillan nurse. This work led me to explore counselling and eventually a Diploma in Person-Centred Counselling and Psychotherapy (FDI 1988) (FDI subsequently became PCT (Scotland).

Supervision: I have been supervising counsellors since 1990 and in 1991 was involved with conceptualising and setting up a certificate in person-centred counselling supervision through PCT(Scotland).

Mindfulness and Meditation: I have done a number of mindfulness/meditation training courses ranging from Tibetan and Western Buddhist meditation and Brahma Kumaris meditation in the 80s to more recently Mindfulness training courses based around cognitive therapy and stress reduction.

Member organisations

COSCA
College of Sexual and Relationship Therapists (COSCA)

COSCA is the professional body for counselling and psychotherapy in Scotland, and seeks to advance all forms of counselling and psychotherapy and the use of counselling skills by promoting best practice and through the delivery of a range of sustainable services. COSCA Counsellor Accreditation is a pathway to entry onto the UKRC.

It is a requirement of all individual and organisational members of COSCA to abide by its Statement of Ethics and Code of Practice and be accountable to the Complaints Procedure. Accredited by the Professional Standards Authority.

Accredited register membership

College of Sexual and Relationship Therapists
Accredited Register Scheme

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.

College of Sexual and Relationship Therapists

Other areas of counselling I deal with

The above list is not definitive and I am open to working with you and with whatever issues you bring that are causing you concern. I welcome an informal discussion,  either on the 'phone or by  email.

Fees

£50.00 per session
Free initial telephone or online session

Additional information

My fee is £50 per hour for counselling or counselling supervision. Sessions are 50 minutes and I work with an open ended contract which means you determine how many therapy/counselling session you want to have, finishing at a time that feels right for you. 
Please ask if you would like to negotiate the fee. 

When I work

Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
Morning
Afternoon
Evening
Night

I'm available for counselling or supervision on a Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday in the daytime.  I am working exclusively by phone or zoom.

Further information

Previously: I trained as a Nurse in Edinburgh in the 60s, completed a Cancer Nursing Certificate at the Royal Marsden Hospital, London and subsequently focused on working with people affected by cancer both in Hospice and Community settings as a Macmillan Nurse. This work included extensive and intensive Bereavement Counselling.
I have had many years experience of working with, and supporting others to work with, people who have experienced sexual abuse, physical and emotional abuse and trauma in its widest context.

I am  a Practitioner Member of COSCA

Banchory, Kincardineshire, AB31

Type of session

Online
Phone

Types of client

Adults

Online platforms

Skype
Whatsapp
Zoom

Supervision

Online
Phone

As a person-centred counselling supervisor I see supervision as a relationship where my part is to offer a safe, supportive yet challenging space in which supervisees (student or qualified) can have space to explore and reflect on themselves in relation to their counselling work.

View supervision profile

Alison Shoemark
Alison Shoemark