Mairi McAllister
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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
Do you struggle to understand why you feel depressed, anxious, scared, confused, maybe you feel like a bad partner or parent. Maybe you feel overwhelmed with day to day life, sleeping, eating, maybe you've struggled with addiction, eating issues, you might have ongoing mental health issues, or they may come and go, but you never feel quite 'normal'. You might be asking yourself 'whats wrong with me?' You might have poor physical health, fibromyalgia or ME for example, did you know there is a huge connection between your mental and physical health ?
Could it be Trauma related ? Sadly many of us as children experienced abuse, be it emotional, physical or sexual, others might have had what might be seen as a normal, even good childhood but who didn't have their emotional needs met, they felt unseen, unheard and unsupported. Any of these experiences can leave us with feeling, not 'good enough', lacking in confidence and self esteem, struggling to maintain relationships, possibly keep a job or for some we manage to appear 'fine' on the outside and hide whats happening inside, not showing our sadness and pain.
For others the abuse is something we experience as adults, domestic or sexual abuse, from being in the military, having a car accident or witnessing others violence. As a result we end up having difficulty with some or all the things I'v mentioned. If this is you, believe me your not alone.
How I can help ?
I specialise in working with people who may be struggling with life as a result of Trauma, I have been a Counsellor for 13 years and before that a support worker for 12 years. Many of my client said, 'I don't understand why I feel like this' or 'I don't know why I can't just forget about the past and move forward' and often ''I feel like I don't know who I am'. Trauma follows us, we can push it away, try to ignore it, deny it but it sneaks up and won't go away until we give it the attention it really needs and deserves. That can be the scary part, but it can really make a difference when we start to pay attention and listen to what it's trying to tell us.
How do we do that?
Sometimes we need a safe space to be heard, really listened to, with compassion and without judgement, without being given advice, really just a chance to give a voice to our feelings, to try and understand ourselves better and manage our day to day lives in healthier and happier ways. Talking helps but its not always enough, I can work with you to try and process trauma that's trapped in your body, somatically, I will help you to trust yourself to listen to whats happening inside you and work with you to find compassion for your hurt and scared parts, gently letting go of sadness, shame and anger.
I offer an initial free chat with you where you can get a sense of whether we might be able to work together, the relationship in Counselling is for me the most important part and the basis from which we can work together. So if you would like to have that conversation without having to make a commitment please get in touch and I can tell you more about what you could expect.
Training, qualifications & experience
I worked between 1998 and 2021 in the 3rd sector with Women's Aid, Safe Space and for 17yrs at a Rape & Sexual Assault Centre with both men and women.
- CPCAB Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling: 2012
- COSCA Certificate in Supervision 2018
- Brainspotting Level 1 & 2
- CRM for the Treatment of Complex Trauma
- Post Grad Certificate in Drug & Alcohol Studies
I have undertaken many shorter CPD courses which have supported my work with clients, particularly around Trauma but also Attachment, Dissociation, and Dissociative Disorders, Organised Abuse, Self Harm & Suicide, Child Protection
I have facilitated training in these subjects to many agencies and organisations and have been a Tutor on a Diploma in Counselling.
In 2023 I undertook Compassionate Inquiry training with Gabor Mate, its a year long intensive Trauma training with a focus on enabling clients to develop a deeper understanding of the impact of their Trauma and in doing so develop compassion for self and challenge old beliefs and judgments around themselves.
I am about to begin another year long course in Somatic Trauma Therapy in order to better help me support clients with the physical and bodily impact of Trauma
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
Other areas of counselling I deal with
Organised/Ritual Abuse
Therapies offered
Photos & videos
Fees
£50.00 per session
Free initial telephone or online session
Concessions offered for
When I work
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Further information
I offer an initial 20min session free (online/telephone) to see if we can work together.
I can offer face to face or online sessions
If appropriate I have visited someone at home if they are unable to travel or leave the house.
