Annie Hay

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MA, Dip Couns, MBACP
Available for new clients
Available for new clients

This professional is available for new clients.

Edinburgh, Midlothian, EH3 7TQ
Available for new clients
Available for new clients

This professional is available for new clients.

About me

Counselling and Psychotherapy for individuals, young people and couples in Edinburgh city centre.

I believe mental health is just as important as physical health, the two being inter-connected. As with any problem, the earlier it is dealt with, the easier the cure. This is true of issues concerning your emotional, mental and physical well-being.

I have worked in mental health in the voluntary and statutory sectors in health, education and  housing and in private practice for over thirty years. Having direct experience I have a broad perspective of mental health issues across sectors, work and social settings, and an understanding of how people of are affected. 

I work with young people, older people, couples, families, individuals who identify as gender diverse, transgender, LGBTQ+

I provide therapy, information, strategies and support to help clients manage and live with; relationships, depression, anxiety, neurodiversity, stress, panic attacks, bereavement, loss and grief, creative block, ADHD, food/weight/eating problems, PTSD, seasonal affective disorder, obsessive or compulsive behaviours, anger, self-abuse, bullying (including cyber-bullying) and the effects of discrimination. 

The principle field of psychotherapy I practice is Transactional Analysis. TA is a sound, lively, and dynamic therapy, and is recognised world-wide for its success in facilitating personal change. One of the great attractions for me in TA is the way it integrates cognitive, behavioural, emotional and physical elements in both theory and practice.

This is a cohesive approach comprising:

  • professional, confidential service
  • over twenty years experience in mental health services
  • respect, empathy, and partnership
  • client and therapist together setting the pace of work
  • resolving the underlying causes of symptoms
  • discovery that you can change and control negative or destructive patterns
  • practical tools for coping with problems
  • clients feeling clearer, more energetic and positive

Benefits of Psychotherapy and Counselling

Psychotherapy and counselling are talking therapies. Whereas counselling is often used to help you cope with recent events such as stress, anger or bereavement, psychotherapy tends to be more in-depth work for issues such as anxiety, depression, addictions or compulsive behaviour. Psychotherapy explores deeper psychological processes which helps you to explore problems and find solutions. Successful psychotherapy results in your symptoms fading, your perspective becoming clearer, feeling more positive, more energetic and more resourceful.

My priority is to help you feel better by addressing the issues you identify as most distressing. I draw on my experience to provide effective treatment options. Working relationally, respect, confidentiality, empathy, and partnership are integral. Clients take an active role in what we do and the pace of the work.

The goal is to resolve the underlying causes of problems, for you to feel clearer, more energetic and more positive, and to have the tools to continue to progress outside and beyond therapy

Couple Counselling
In couple counselling I work with people who are facing specific crises and want to unravel them with the assistance of someone who is impartial and non-judgemental. Some couples feel they have stopped talking meaningfully. Some are afraid their relationship is crumbling or their marriage is failing. Some couples want to improve intimacy and communication, others seek help in bringing their relationship to a close. Often, couples are looking for pre-marital counselling. They want to sort out issues such as communicating, negotiating and making decisions, finances and dealing with extended families. Couple, or relationship counselling is a safe arena within which to open up and explore problems.


Young People
I work with young people to help them to manage difficult areas of their lives. This could be relationships, family, problems with friends, school, exams or studies, sleep, bullying, cyber-bullying or food and weight issues.

Training, qualifications & experience

MA Hons, University of Edinburgh
Post Graduate Diploma in Transactional Analysis Counselling and Psychotherapy, Queen Margaret University.

I have worked in mental health settings for over twenty years in the voluntary and private sectors

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.

BACP
British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy (BACP)

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.

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

Coredynamix

This is an integrated service for people who want to improve their emotional, mental and physical health and well being. We combine counselling and exercise therapy because together, they provide extra support to enable clients to make positive, lasting life changes. Combined, they are a healthy, positive and constructive way to increase health, self-esteem, confidence, strength and energy.

Benefits of combining exercise and counselling:

  • Understand the thoughts you have in relation to food and body image
  • Recognise your unrealistic expectations about weight loss
  • Develop a healthy relationship with food which will help you overcome old destructive patterns of eating
  • Improve your self-esteem
  • Reduce toxic feelings of anger or self-disgust
  • Reduce depression, anxiety and other symptoms
  • Achieve fitness and weight loss

Fees

£65.00 - £80.00
Free initial telephone or online session

Concessions offered for

  • Low income
  • Keyworkers
  • OAPs
  • Students
  • Trainee counsellors
  • Unemployed
  • Refugees

Additional information

Individual Therapy £65
Couples Therapy £75

When I work

Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
Morning
Afternoon
Evening
Night

Further information

Professional Membership:
ITAA (InternationalTransactional Analysis Association)
STAA (Scottish Transactional Analysis Association),
COSCA (Counselling and Psychotherapy in Scotland).
BACP (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy)
I subscribe to the Code of Ethics of the BACP and the ITA which is a member of the UKCP (United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy)

EH1 Therapies, 4B Randolph Place, Edinburgh, Midlothian, EH3 7TQ

Type of session

In person
Online
Phone

Types of client

Young people
Adults
Older Adults
Couples
Families

Online platforms

Skype
Whatsapp
Zoom

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