About me
Choosing a counsellor can feel daunting. Many people tell me they’re not sure what they want to say, only that something doesn’t feel right and they want a space where they can finally be real, without having to explain or perform.
When you contact me, you’ll be met with warmth, curiosity and respect. I aim to create a space where you feel safe enough to slow down, to speak freely, and to explore things at your own pace — including the parts of yourself that may feel confusing, overwhelming or difficult to put into words.
I am experienced, with an established private practice, and I’ve worked with a wide range of people and life experiences. Clients come to me with anxiety, low mood, relationship difficulties, family pressures, trauma, neurodiversity, loss, and those quieter struggles that don’t always have a clear name but still take up a lot of emotional space.
Often, what brings someone to therapy isn’t just a single issue, but a sense of being stuck, worn down, or living on the outside of their own life.
My role is not to tell you what to do, but to help you understand yourself more deeply, make sense of your patterns, and find ways of living that feel more grounded and authentic.
I work in a relational, trauma‑informed way, paying close attention to what feels safe and manageable for you. Sessions are collaborative rather than prescriptive — we work together to understand what’s happening for you and what you need from therapy.
You don’t need to have everything worked out before you come. Some days you might arrive with lots to say; other days you might not know where to begin. Both are welcome. I believe meaningful change happens when you feel genuinely heard, not rushed or judged.
Clients often describe my approach as calm, thoughtful and containing. I bring experience and professional knowledge, but also humanity — I’m alongside you at every stage.
Training, qualifications & experience
Alongside general counselling work, I have experience supporting:
- women and children affected by trauma
- families navigating crisis, change or relational strain
- neurodivergent individuals and families, in a way that affirms difference rather than trying to “fix” it
- people living with the long‑term impact of family dynamics, attachment patterns and early experiences
I understand that trauma and emotional distress don’t always show up in obvious ways. Therapy with me is not about labels, but about understanding your story in a way that feels compassionate and empowering.
What I can help with:
- Mental health conditions - depression, anxiety, eating disorders, OCD, phobias.
- Life Challenges - bereavement, relationship breakdowns, abuse, trauma, redundancy, medical diagnoses, menopause, work issues.
- Difficult emotions - stress, low in mood, loneliness, anger management.
- Long term health challenges - infertility, stroke, heart conditions, diabetes or cancer, or caregiving stress.
- Self understanding and development, low confidence, low-self-worth, communication issues, relationship issues, family problems.
Types of therapy offered:
- I have trained as a Pluralistic therapist which means that I am able to offer different types of counselling and we will work in partnership to tailor your therapy sessions specifically for you. Everyone is unique and I believe that your counselling journey should reflect that, so I will explain the theories during your sessions to help you understand and decide how we will blend different counselling approaches to create a flexible therapy experience to meet your needs.
- I am also trained in Dyadic therapy which means that I can use this therapy approach when helping families to make sure that everyone is supported and feels heard and sessions are tailored to each family’s unique dynamics.
Other work:
- In addition to my private therapy sessions, I work with a charity that offers counselling to families in crisis and young people with trauma history or bereavement.
Member organisations
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
Photos & videos
Fees
£60.00 - £65.00
Health Insurance/EAP
Additional information
In-person sessions for individuals are £65 for 60 minute appointments, online sessions are £60 for 60 minute appointments.
In-person sessions for couples are £80.
For larger family sessions I offer 90 minute appointments for £100.
If you wish to book a block of sessions there is a 10% discount when you pay for 6 sessions up front.
When I work
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I have spaces available for new clients on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Please get in touch if you would like to book in on other days and I will try to accommodate if possible.
Further information
What to expect in a first session
It’s very common to feel unsure or nervous about a first counselling session. Many people wonder what they’re supposed to say, whether they’ll be judged, or whether therapy will feel too intense. I aim to make our first meeting feel as grounded, respectful and human as possible.
A gentle starting point
Our first session is a chance to meet each other and begin to get a sense of whether working together feels right for you. There is no pressure to share everything straight away. You won’t be asked to dive into anything before you’re ready.
We’ll start by talking about what has brought you to counselling at this point in your life. Some people come with a clear idea of what they want to work on; others just know something doesn’t feel right. Both are completely welcome.
Going at your pace
You are always in control of what you choose to share. My role is to help you feel safe enough to talk honestly, not to push or rush you. If something feels difficult to put into words, we can take time with that together.
I’ll listen carefully and ask gentle questions to help me understand your experiences, your current challenges, and what support might be most helpful for you right now.
Making sense of what you’re experiencing
Part of the first session often involves beginning to make sense of what’s happening for you — how past experiences, relationships, or ongoing stress may be affecting you now. This isn’t about labelling or diagnosing, but about understanding your story in a compassionate and non‑judgemental way.
Where helpful, I may also begin to explain how I work and how counselling might support you, so that the process feels transparent and collaborative.
Practicalities and boundaries
We’ll cover practical details such as confidentiality, session structure and boundaries, so you know exactly what to expect going forward. This helps create a sense of safety and clarity around the work.
How you might feel afterwards
People often leave a first session feeling different in different ways — sometimes relieved, sometimes thoughtful, sometimes emotionally tired, sometimes simply lighter for having spoken out loud. There is no “right” way to feel after a first appointment.
After the first session
There’s no obligation to commit beyond the first session. You’re encouraged to take time to reflect on whether the space felt right for you and whether you felt heard and understood. The therapeutic relationship matters, and it’s important that you trust your sense of fit.
If you’re looking for a calm, thoughtful space where you can be met with experience, warmth and genuine understanding, you’re welcome to get in touch to arrange an initial session or ask any questions you may have.
You can book counselling sessions directly via my booking system by selecting book now on the website or following the link: https://eubook.nookal.com/bookings/book/0b9Fd1B8-Ad2C-B4bD-F9aA-6c0F7DeA5A9a/location selecting Counselling, then Caroline Counselling, in-person or online sessions and choosing a time.
If you are unsure how to book or prefer to discuss different availability first, please get in touch on 01506237770 and we will be happy to help.
I provide sessions for individual adults and young people from age 11, couples or all family members. I work in a flexible manner to ensure the therapy is specific to you and your family.
I deliver therapy in-person from my counselling room within my home in Seafield, West Lothian, online video calls, or by telephone as per your preference and circumstances and this can be flexible throughout your period of therapy.
I can offer short-term or long-term therapy depending on your needs. The number of sessions varies for each client and although I may recommend a number of sessions it is completely within your control how many sessions you wish to attend and you can stop counselling for any reason.
