Kirsten Mckenzie
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This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
I provide a safe and accepting space for you to work through your difficulties and find a path forward. I provide counselling face-to-face from St Andrews and The East Neuk of Fife on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. I also provide sessions online.
Training, qualifications & experience
I completed my Masters in Pluralistic Counselling at Abertay University (with Distinction) in 2022. I am also a published author of two novels and several short stories and completed the M Litt in Creative Writing at St Andrews University in 2007. I love using creative writing, journaling and narrative therapy techniques in my work, helping people rediscover their creative spark through counselling. My masters project involved using creative methods to explore our inner child and rediscover our core values.
My first degree, completed in 1997, was in English Literature and Scottish History at the University of St Andrews and since then I have worked in PR as well as teaching creative writing. I also have experience of being an unpaid carer for an elderly relative and have particular interest in supporting carers in their demanding roles.
I have also completed CPD training in CBT, ASSIST suicide prevention, working with addiction, narrative techniques, compassion-focused therapy (CFT) and outdoor therapy.
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
£45.00 per session
Free initial in-person, telephone or online session
Additional information
The first session is free as I believe it is important to find the best 'fit' for you as a counsellor. There is no obligation to continue after this first session. It is an opportunity for us to get to know each other and for you to find out more about the work we could do together.
When I work
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Evening sessions will usually be offered as online sessions.
Further information
I am a pluralistic counsellor working from a person centred foundation. We may make use of a range of tools from different therapeutic methods, including person centred, psychodynamic and CBT (especially Acceptance and Commitment Therapy), but this will always be done in collaboration with you using the tools you find most helpful. As a writer I have a particular interest in using creative methods especially writing and journaling. I am also interested in outdoor and nature therapy and Compassion Focused Therapy.