Lorna Gunn
Every professional displayed on Counselling Directory has been independently verified by our team to ensure they have suitable credentials to practise.
This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
Information about Lorna’s counselling Practice
I offer person centred counselling to adults on a variety of life issues by providing a safe, confidential therapeutic environment. I work with people to help them find a resolution to the difficulties that get in the way of their living a fuller life.
Ethics
The therapy relationship is always professional. In order to be effective in helping clients reach their goals. The therapeutic relationship can and should be warm, friendly and accepting but it is never to be confused with a friendship. All professional associations have codes of ethics that govern the way the therapeutic relationship is handled and set professional boundaries around it. I am a practioner member of COSCA and a registered member BACP. As such I adhere to COSCA’s Statement of Ethics and Codes of Practice, and BACP’s Ethical Framework for good practice in Counselling & Psychotherapy.
Contact details for both COSCA and BACP are:
www.cosca.org.uk e mail info@cosca.org.uk t: 01786 475140
www.bacp.co.uk e mail bacp@bacp.co.ukt: 01455 88330
Confidentiality & limits to confidentiality
Therapy is confidential. It takes a great deal of courage to open up your inner world and share it with a complete stranger. Clients need to know that they are safe to do so and that what they say, and even the fact that they see the therapist, are going to remain confidential. This means that therapists are not allowed to disclose content of sessions or talk about who they are seeing. There are however limits to this. These are explained fully in the COSCA and BACP code of ethics and principles. (Contact details above). Where at all possible, I would discuss with the client, a need to possibly take information somewhere else. The reasons for a possible breach of confidential may be around the following.
-
Issues around harm to either yourself or others.
-
Child Protection Issues
-
Acts of Terrorism or Serious Acts of Crime
Experience
I have over 25 years of experience working with children, families and individuals who have experienced psychological trauma, anxiety, distress and issues around loss and grief or addiction. People can also experience issues around change and transition which can leave them feeling overwhelmed.
I was a social worker in Highland for many years and later managed a rehabilitation Unit for people with alcohol and drug addiction.
Currently I work as a lecturer and counsellor with Inverness College UHI. I currently also work voluntarily in the area of addictions, and will see clients privately.
Training, qualifications & experience
I hold a COSCA Diploma in Counselling and I am also a COSCA Accredited Trainer in Counselling. In addition, I am a registered member of the BACP. I have also trained in and have a Post Graduate Certificate in alcohol & drug abuse. In teaching I have a BA in Tertiary Education and am a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. I recently updated my training in child protection and Vulnerable Adults. It is part of a counsellor’s responsibility with both COSCA and BACP, to maintain Continuous Professional Development (CPD). Counsellors are required to do a minimum of 18 hours. I take advantage of any opportunities to develop my professional competence.
I also have membership of the PVG (protecting Vulnerable Groups) scheme at the enhanced level. This registers me as a responsible person who can work with children and Adults. The scheme is run by Disclosure Scotland.
I maintain my social work registration with the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC). To maintain this registration I have to adhere to the values and principles of SSSC. www.sssc.uk.com
Supervision
Another quality assurance measure for members of the public seeking counselling is the requirement in COSCA and BACP ethics for counsellors to participate in Supervision. I am supervised on a continuous basis. This does not mean I share information about any client I work with. In essence supervision is about my continual development as a counsellor. I discuss my way of working and explore any areas that will help me to develop professionally.
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
Additional information
£40.00
When I work
Due to a family bereavement I will not be taking any appointments for the time being. I can see people in the evenings (Monday to Friday) and a Saturday.
Further information
I see people in the evenings from 6pm (Monday - Friday) or on a Saturday
Complaints:
In my counselling practice I also adhere to the complaints procedures and standards of COSCA. This measure is another way of ensuring that your voice will be heard and your complaint listened to and acted upon, if you feel that your complaint has not been resolved satisfactory with your counsellor.
You can access the complaints procedure and information about how to make a complaint via COSCA's website. If you need help to pursue a complaint then contact COSCA for guidance. There is also the Citizen Advice Bureau and Advocacy Scotland. At this time I do not have this information in another language, however, the Citizen Advice Bureau would help you to access an interpreter.
I would encourage you to have a look at the COSCA and BACP websites as they hold a great deal of helpful information about counselling in general, as well as the above information.
COSCA's contact details are:
www.cosca.org.uk e mail info@cosca.org.uk t: 01786 475140
www.bacp.co.uk e mail bacp@bacp.co.uk t: 01455 88330
