Dionne Shanks
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This professional is accepting new clients but may have a waitlist. Please enquire with them directly to discuss availability.
This professional is accepting new clients but may have a waitlist. Please enquire with them directly to discuss availability.
About me
Welcome - My name is Dionne and I am a registered counsellor working with young people (16+) and adults in central Edinburgh and online. My collaborative and flexible therapeutic approach allows me to tailor our work to meet your individual needs and nature. I offer a safe, confidential and empathic space to explore difficult issues - a space where you can be yourself without judgement.
Coming into counselling, you may have a very clear idea of what you want to bring or you may have no idea at all of what is behind the feelings, thoughts or behaviours that are causing you distress - either way is totally fine and very welcome.
Maybe you are struggling with feelings of overwhelm or anxiety. Perhaps you have suffered loss and the grief feels insurmountable. It could be that setting healthy boundaries feels impossible leading to feelings of resentment and guilt. There are so many things that can get in the way of us living the balanced life we want and deserve. Whatever you are experiencing, it is likely you feel that something needs to change, and I can help.
I will provide you with a therapeutic relationship where you will be met with warmth, openness and compassion. Together we will explore your difficulties, along with identifying your strengths, and I will support you in making positive change which is meaningful and personal to you.
How I Work
A client once described to me their experience of therapy as being a bit like a jigsaw puzzle and it has stuck with me - taking a piece of the puzzle at a time and discovering how it fits into the bigger picture, gradually allowing a clearer image and different perspectives to be uncovered along the way.
I am a pluralistic therapist which means I have trained in multiple counselling techniques and believe there is no ‘one size fits all’ approach to therapy. I understand everyone is unique and I aim to tailor my counselling methods to meet your individual needs and preferences. We will do this through open, collaborative dialogue and shared decision making within a trusted therapeutic relationship.
Together, we can explore your story and establish your hopes and goals. I will work with you to make sense of whatever is happening in your life, to hear and to hold everything you bring without judgement. I would encourage you to bring every part of yourself to our sessions – the confused, the difficult and the messy parts of you are all welcome.
I practice from a neurodiverse-affirming lens having gained knowledge, understanding and insights from personal/close family experiences along with relevant training and my professional work.
I am LGBTQIA+ friendly and advocate for equality. I provide some reduced-cost counselling for students and those on lower income.
What you might bring to counselling
There are no hard and fast rules as to what you may want to bring to counselling but some of the issues I often support clients with are summarised below:
- navigating challenging life events and changes, making sense of what is happening and finding perspective
- loss, grief and bereavement
- dealing with difficult emotions and feelings such as shame, jealousy, anger, fear, rejection and loneliness
- dealing with difficult or painful relationships
- navigating neurodiverse experiences (inc. ADHA, Dyslexia, DCD, Autism)
- changing behaviour
- understanding and developing self-worth, undoing self-criticism and enhancing self-care
- problem-solving, planning and decision making
- struggles with what lies ahead in the future
Whatever you want to bring we can work together, so you are not dealing with it alone.
How to get in touch
I would love to hear from you and answer any questions you may have. Please drop me an email (dionne.counselling@gmail.com) or leave me a voicemail message (07404 994 772). I will get back to you as soon as I can to arrange a free 20-minute session at a time that suits you.
What to expect from our initial session
In the initial session, I will be curious to understand a bit more about you and what has brought you to counselling just now. It is important to me that you know you don't have to go into lots of details or visit difficult experiences before you are ready.
You may also have some questions for me about counselling or how we may work together.
There is no obligation for you to proceed with counselling together after this contact as it's really important you find a counsellor that feels a good fit for you.
Training, qualifications & experience
I am a BACP registered counsellor with an MSc in Pluralistic Counselling and Psychotherapy from Abertay University.
Before entering private practice, I worked therapeutically within a charitable organisation supporting clients with a range of presenting issues including grief, anxiety, relationship problems, low self-esteem, neurodiversity, loss of hope, trauma and self-harm. My clients come from a diverse range of backgrounds, cultural identities, gender identities and sexual orientations.
I also work within a 3rd sector organisation, Children 1st, supporting parents and in a school 1 day a week working therapeutically with children. I do not currently work privately with children but this is something I envisage in the future.
Recently Undertaken Further Training and Professional Development
Working with Neurodivergent Clients Using the Autism Dialogue Approach, How to Help your Clients Manage Overwhelm, Training for Bereavement Counselling, Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training, Counselling Clients with ADHD.
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
Fees
£50.00 - £55.00
Free initial telephone or online session
Concessions offered for
Additional information
In-person sessions are one hour and cost £55 per session.
Online and telephone sessions are one hour and cost £50 per session.
Please ask about concessionary rates for lower income and students.
Free initial online/telephone session (20 mins).
When I work
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I am available for in-person sessions at Dialogue & Space, EH7 5QZ and The Heart of Newhaven, EH6 4HY. Both are serviced by excellent bus/tram routes and have free on-street parking.
