About me
I am a well respected psychodynamic psychotherapist and student counsellor in Edinburgh, with over 20 years of experience. My special areas of expertise are young people and transitions, family issues, parenting issues including pre and post-partum experiences and work related issues.
I offer a reduced cost service to students as I know that affordability for good quality counselling can be an issue. For the past 18 years I have specialised in working with staff and students in a higher education setting. I have experience in working with student issues such as transitions, anxiety including panic attacks, OCD and social anxiety, stress, academic struggles, homesickness, depression, eating disorders, self-harm, procrastination, perfectionism, sleep disturbance, self-esteem, loneliness and identity issues.
I am deeply passionate about therapy as a powerful tool for growth, and tenacious in my belief that change is possible. My approach is grounded in a deep sense of curiosity and a genuine desire to understand your unique experience. I bring a calm, thoughtful presence to each session, creating a space where you can feel safe, heard, and supported and where we can collaborate to explore your thoughts, emotions and challenges.
As a psychodynamic therapist, I may support you to consider your past relationships and the unconscious patterns they create which can shape your current thoughts, feelings and behaviours.
I offer both long-term psychotherapy and medium term counselling. Sometimes it’s hard to know which is the best fit for you and this is something that we can discuss in our initial appointment.
Training, qualifications & experience
Qualifications
- Certificate in Counselling Supervision (2019-2020)
- MSc in Counselling Studies (2005-2006)
- Postgraduate Diploma in Counselling (Interpersonal Dialogue) (2003-2005)
- Postgraduate Diploma in Early Education (2001-2003)
- MEd in Primary Education (1989-1993)
Professional Experience
- Psychodynamic Psychotherapist (Private Practice) | 2022–Present
- Psychodynamic Supervisor (Private Practice) | 2022–Present
- Brief-Therapy Provider – Edinburgh University Student Counselling Service | 2010–2025
- Brief-Therapy Provider – Edinburgh University Staff Counselling Service | 2007–2016
- Personal Tutor – Edinburgh University Postgraduate -Diploma in Counselling (Interpersonal Dialogue) | 2005–2009
- Psychodynamic Psychotherapist – VOCAL (Supporting Adult Carers) | 2005–2007
- Psychodynamic Psychotherapist – Edinburgh Post Natal Depression Project | 2005–2007
- School Counsellor – ThePlace2Be (Charity providing counselling for children within primary school settings) | 2004–2005
- Psychodynamic Psychotherapist – Wellspring (Charity offering high-quality psychotherapy and counselling in Edinburgh) | 2003–2005
- Volunteer Call-Taker – ParentLine Scotland (Charity providing anonymous support to parents across Scotland) | 2002–2004
- Primary School Teacher – Darmel Private Nursery | 1998–1999
- Primary School Teacher – The Royal High Primary School, Edinburgh | 1993–1998
Publications
Sim, D. (2016). Tolerating the 'Chaos Monsters': Making sense with Bion. In L. Bondi & J. Fewell (Eds.), Practitioner research in counselling and psychotherapy: The power of examples (pp. 155-171). Sage Publications.
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
£60.00 per session
Additional information
Concessionary rate for students - £45
Further information
I run my private practice from a comfortable room in the West End of Edinburgh, where you will feel safe and secure and where we will be free from interruption.
My therapy room is on the second floor; if you have restricted mobility, please let me know and we can discuss the option of telephone counselling.
My therapy room is within walking distance of public transport links.
