Kerry Donaldson MSc, MBACP (Accred)
About me
Could counselling be helpful for you right now? When we’re least expecting it, someone or something comes along that knocks us off our feet. We may feel overwhelmed and exhausted, anxious, unhappy and uncertain about our life, our relationship issues; we may experience emotional difficulties or upheaval, and we may struggle to make sense of it. It is at times like this that counselling can be the help that we need.
As a counsellor, I can help you work through your problems. I am a highly qualified and experienced therapist who will give you the opportunity to explain what is troubling you. I have many years of experience in working with people on a wide range of issues, including anxiety, depression, low self-esteem and low confidence, being stuck or blocked, health related problems, family pressure, childhood trauma, loss, relationship difficulties, stress at work, addictions, abuse, couple related issues and mediation. Whatever your problem or concern, I will listen to you - without judgement or bias.
I have experience of working from both psychodynamic and person-centred perspectives, however, my natural orientation is to focus on, and to address your needs as my client – rather than using a single (fixed) approach. My aim is to work with you to achieve positive outcomes. I will give you the time and space to examine and reflect; to find some perspective, as well as exploring more effective ways of dealing with life.
Please call me if you feel that my approach to counselling would work for you.
Training, qualifications & experience
MSc in Counselling (University of Edinburgh)
PG Diploma in Counselling (University of Edinburgh)
COSCA Trainer – working towards accreditation
COSCA counselling modules 1-4 (Stirling College)
Accredited workplace Mediator (University of Stirling)
Accredited alcohol and drugs counsellor (Stirling)
Couple Counsellor (Stirling)
EMDR Practitioner (EMDR Works)
I have been in practise for many years working in business, voluntary, higher education and private sectors.
Ongoing Training
I want to be as good a counsellor as I can be for my clients, so I'm committed to continuous training and learning. Events I have attended and participated in recently have been about:
- Family therapy
- Interpreting dreams
- Relationship with food and your mood
I also receive regular supervision to ensure that I work as ethically and effectively as possible.
Member organisations
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.
British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy
BACP is one of the UK’s largest professional bodies for counselling and psychotherapy. Therapists registered with the Association fall into a number of different membership categories such as Individual Member, Registered Member MBACP and Registered Member MBACP (Accred), each standing for different levels of training and experience. MBACP (Accred) and MBACP (Snr Accred) members have achieved a substantial level of training and experience approved by the Association.
Registered members can be found on the BACP Register, which was the first register to achieve Accredited Voluntary Register status issued by the Professional Standards Authority. Individual Members will have completed an appropriate counselling and/or psychotherapy course and started to practise, but will not appear on the BACP Register until they've progressed to Registered Member MBACP status.
All members are bound by a Code of Ethics & Practice and a Complaints Procedure. Accredited by the Professional Standards Authority.
College of Sexual and Relationship Therapists
COSCA is the professional body for counselling and psychotherapy in Scotland, and seeks to advance all forms of counselling and psychotherapy and the use of counselling skills by promoting best practice and through the delivery of a range of sustainable services. COSCA Counsellor Accreditation is a pathway to entry onto the UKRC.
It is a requirement of all individual and organisational members of COSCA to abide by its Statement of Ethics and Code of Practice and be accountable to the Complaints Procedure. Accredited by the Professional Standards Authority.
Accredited register membership
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.
Areas of counselling I deal with
Fees
I offer an initial 30 minute discussion session free of charge.
After this, I charge either £45 for individuals and £55 for couples for each full session of 60 minutes. I will happily discuss a reduced fee for a period of time.
I also work for corporate clients (prices available on request).
I do ask for payment if I am offered less than 24 hours notice to cancel.
Further information
Walk and Talk Therapy:
I can offer sessions that take you outside. We walk out in the Trossachs and explore what is troubling you whilst walking and talking. For some people talking and walking in the outdoors can be more relaxed than being in a counselling room - walking whilst sharing your life situations and struggles can be therapeutic.
I am a COSCA trainer - I train individuals and groups in counselling skills and in the Certificate in Counselling.
Over the last 7 years I have taught counselling skills as part of the MSc in Health Psychology at the University of Stirling.
Please ask about my training provision if you are interested in counselling training.
I have PVG membership with Disclosure Scotland.
