Alistair Dickson
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This professional is 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
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.
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
Therapies offered
Fees
£40.00 - £55.00
Free initial in-person, telephone or online session
Concessions offered for
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
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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.