Alistair Dickson

Verified Professional task_alt Verified Professional
Verified Professional

Every professional displayed on Counselling Directory has been independently verified by our team to ensure they have suitable credentials to practise.

Pronoun: he
MBACP (Accredited) Dip Counselling
Available for new clients
Available for new clients

This professional is available for new clients.

location_on Glasgow, City of Glasgow, G3
Available for new clients
Available for new clients

This professional is available for new clients.

About me


I am an  accredited counsellor with 10 years post qualifying experience offering a one to one counselling service, based in the Charing Cross area of Glasgow. This can be face to face, online or by phone, short or long term depending on your needs and wishes. I work with clients as individuals and with their own unique life issues which they bring to counselling. I have experience of helping adults and young people work through various difficulties, including depression, anxiety, loss, bereavement, physical disabilities, bullying, relationship problems and painful feelings arising from childhood difficulties, trauma and abuse.

I can assure a non- judgmental, warm, compassionate, safe and professional approach. Along with working at your pace in a collaborative way, this creates the basis of a working relationship. Here trust can grow and thoughts and feelings can be found, expressed and explored. This forms a ground in exploring relationships and emotions past and present

My training has been in Psychodynamic counselling which works with  processes and emotions that are unconscious to gradually bring them into conscious awareness. It takes into account the perspective of the past and how early experiences and attachment relationships can be carried unconsciously throughout life, creating patterns which can have an adverse influence  on present emotions and relationships. It is only through becoming aware and of such unconscious patterns and emotions which are causing present difficulties that real change can begin to be made.

I am also a qualified supervisor  offering individual supervision to therapists and trainees face to face in Glasgow or online.  Please see my supervisor profile below.

I have found my own personal experience of the process of counselling very useful, as part of my training and also at difficult points in my life as a way of exploring  and learning more about myself, working through  difficulties and changing ways of relating with others for the better. This has been valuable experience in being able to fully facilitate the counselling process for others.

If needed I can offer an initial free 30 minute call or meeting where we can explore your needs and the possibility of working together. Here I would be considering what is bringing you to therapy and I would be giving information about the way I work and there would be an opportunity for questions. There is no charge for this time. If we decide to work together I ask for an initial commitment of eight sessions. I also ask for at least 24 hrs notice in cancelling sessions otherwise the session fee would be chargeable.  I believe it’s important that counselling is accessible as much as possible. If needed I can offer reduced rates by negotiation. My background previous to counselling has been in Art Therapy (qualified in 1988) and working for nearly 40 years with adults of all ages from many different cultures and social backgrounds in the communities of London and Glasgow. This has been in the areas of mental health, ability, carers and education which has included one to one support, group work and also supporting students in further and Higher education. I also work as an Acreditated (COSCA) Trainer/ Tutor of Counselling /Psychotherapy and now finalising training as a clinical supervisor in counselling and psychotherapy.

Training, qualifications & experience

  • Qualified Supervisor, July 2024 in this capacity I can  offer supervision sessions to therapists/counsellors - in person or online, fees £55/£40
  • Accredited Trainer in Counselling COSCA  Certificate level June 19
  • Accredited Member of the British Assosciation of Counselling and Psychotherapy Dec 17
  • Registered Member of the British Association of Counselling  2015.
  • I work in accordance with BACP's and COSCA's Code of Ethics.
  • Diploma in Psychodynamic Counselling  2014
  • Supervised counselling practise since 2013
  • Post - Graduate  Certificate in Education  -  Qualified teaching in Further Education 1997
  • Postgraduate Diploma in Art Therapy 1988
  • Registered member of the PVG (Protection of Vulnerable Groups) scheme run by Disclosure Scotland.
  • Regularly updating training - undertaking continuous professional development. e.g. Suicide awareness, short term psychodynamic counselling.


Member organisations

school Registered / Accredited

Registered / Accredited

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
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

British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy
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.

British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy

Areas of counselling I deal with

Therapies offered

Fees

£40.00 - £55.00
Free initial in-person, telephone or online session

Concessions offered for

  • check_circle Low income
  • check_circle OAPs
  • check_circle Students
  • check_circle Trainee counsellors
  • check_circle Unemployed

Additional information

Initial  consultation  (phone, online or by meeting) - free,  then £55/£40 -  for each 60 minute sessions. Sliding scale/concessions considered for trainees/students, those working part time or on benefits. I would need 24 hr notice of any cancellations otherwise fees for missed sessions may be charged.

When I work

Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
Morning
Afternoon
Evening
Night

Please ring or email to arrange an initial free consultation. 

Further information

The premises where I work offers wheelchair access and is a quiet confidential space. I have  previously worked in the fields of support in education and the community based services. I have a wide practising knowledge of the fields of mental health and additional support needs such as autism, aspergers syndrome, dyslexia and physical impairment. I have practiced and taught the stress release and awareness practise of mindfulness for many years and have, where appropriate, offered this to clients.

Glasgow, City of Glasgow, G3

Type of session

In person
Online
Phone

Types of client

Young adults (18-24)
Adults (25-64)
Older Adults (65+)
Employee Assistance Programme

Key details

PVG Scheme info

In Scotland, criminal records checks are carried out by Disclosure Scotland. Professionals working with children or vulnerable adults must join the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme. You can learn more at mygov.scot , or contact this professional directly.

Wheelchair user access info
Wheelchair user access

Wheelchair-accessible premises should have step-free access for wheelchair users and individuals who are unable to climb stairs. If a Counsellor's premises aren't step-free, they may offer alternative services such as telephone/web-based appointments, home visits, or meeting clients in different location, so you can choose the option that suits you best.

You can contact the Counsellor to discuss the options available.

Under the Equality Act 2010 service providers have a duty to make reasonable adjustments to ensure that individuals with disabilities can access their service. You can read more about reasonable adjustments to help you to access services on the CAB website.

Car park to the rear of the building. Based in Berkley street Charing Cross, Glasgow not far from Charing Cross rail station and St Georges cross underground station.

Supervision

In person
Online
Phone

Qualified clinical supervisor offering individual supervision, online or in person in central Glasgow.

View supervision profile

Alistair Dickson
Alistair Dickson