About me
Why choose me:
I am a qualified and experienced Person-Centred Counsellor providing a safe, ethical, confidential service, based in Aboyne, Aberdeenshire.
Trained to work with young people (aged 12+) and adults, individuals, couples and family groups.
I specialise in working with people who have complex mental health issues, but I also believe that having a confidential space to open up and talk to someone who’s not involved in your everyday life is potentially beneficial for everyone!
If you're struggling with life, feeling stressed, low or worried, I'd love to hear from you.
If you're struggling in your relationship, things aren't what they used to be, or you would just like space to express what's been going on for you and your partner, please get in touch.
What happens after you contact me:
I will endeavour to get back in touch with you within 12 hours of your first contact, offering you an appointment within 10 working days.
Initial contact:
I welcome email enquiries or, if you’re comfortable speaking on the phone/Zoom, I’m happy to offer a free introductory 20-30 minute call. This introductory email/phone contact is primarily for me to tell you a little bit more about myself and how I work, and for you (and your partner, if you're seeking couples counselling) to let me know what has prompted you to seek support. I know you might be nervous at the thought of getting in touch, that's to be expected, but hopefully I'll be able to put you at ease. This initial contact also allows us both to make sure I'm the best therapist to meet your needs before you make the financial commitment of booking in. After that, if you decide to go ahead, we can make an appointment for our first session.
Once you've booked in for a session, I will send you my "Information For Clients" document which I hope will contain all the details you'll need to know about your counselling with me.
For couples, I also have a short form to complete in advance of us working together.
Our first session:
Appointments usually take place from my home in Aboyne, a private space with parking available. Although I'm also happy to be able to offer counselling sessions via web-based video (we can discuss which one you'd prefer) or on the phone (I offer phone counselling for individual clients only) and I have completed robust post-qualification Certificate-level training to be able to effectively practice this way. Full information will be sent prior to your first appointment so that you can best prepare yourself for this "remote" working.
At our first appointment, I don't have a lot of paperwork to complete, just a simple contact form which is uploaded onto a secure database so that all of your details remain completely confidential.
At the end of your first session we can discuss when you'd next like to meet. Some clients come twice weekly, others weekly or fortnightly. As we work together, driven by your needs, we can decide the frequency and the duration of your therapy. Some clients find that short-term work (up to 4 sessions) is enough, others need longer.
All sessions last 50-60 minutes.
How I work:
As a Person-Centred Counsellor I believe that you are the expert in your own life – it may not feel much like that just now, but only you know what you’ve experienced, how you feel and and, ultimately, which direction you wish to grow in. Person-Centred Counselling works by the two of us building a relationship of trust and respect, which will hopefully help you to open up and talk about whatever it is you want to bring. I will support you to explore how you’re feeling and, through that, help you find a way forward. It’s different from other types of therapy in that Person-Centred Counsellors don’t usually give advice or tell you what to do – rather I will support you to find coping strategies for yourself, if that’s what you’d like to do, or to better understand and come to terms with your past or current situation.
Confidentiality:
Privacy is, understandably, of utmost importance to my clients. We live in small communities here in rural Aberdeenshire and total confidentiality is absolutely essential. As a Registered Accredited Member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, I am committed to their Ethical Framework and am proud to uphold its rigorous standards.
Please get in touch if you have any questions, and I will do my best to answer them.
I look forward to hearing from you soon!
Training, qualifications & experience
- BSc (Hons) in Psychology
- MSc in Person-Centred Counselling with Children, Young People and Adults (Distinction)
- Post-Qualification Certificate in Online and Telephone Counselling
- Post-Qualification Certificate in Clinical Supervision
- Certificate in Working with and Facilitating Groups (completed through Tavistock and Portman NHS Trust)
- Certificate in Trauma Therapy (completed through The Grove, London)
I have spent more than 25 years working in the field of Mental Health as a Support Worker, Mental Health Advocate, and Counsellor.
I previously combined my role as Senior Manager, Staff Counsellor/Supervisor and Counselling Trainer for a local Voluntary Sector service, with my thriving Private Practice. I am now employed part-time with a major Private Healthcare company focusing on working with clients, supervising counsellors and delivering mental health awareness raising in corporate settings and for community groups, and combine this with my thriving Private Practice.
I am currently available to work with young adults (aged 16+), adults, and family groups.
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
Other areas of counselling I deal with
Body-image
Health At Every Size (HAES) informed
LGBTQIA+
Therapies offered
Photos & videos
Fees
£65.00 - £95.00
Concessions offered for
Additional information
£65 per hour for individuals
£75 per hour for couples/people in relationships (eg siblings, friends etc)
£95 for family groups
with payment due by BACS or PayPal.me within 24-hours of session completion.
When I work
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Early morning | |||||||
| Morning | |||||||
| Early afternoon | |||||||
| Late afternoon | |||||||
| Evening |
