Mary Leonard
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This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
Anxiety and stress around personal and professional relationships, as well as societal pressure around image and the need to achieve certain goals, can often be overwhelming, leading to feelings of helplessness, frustration, anger and desperation.
Often we feel isolated, excluded and even ashamed of our own thoughts and feelings, and this can make talking with friends or family impossible. It might even be that those closest to us are causing or adding to our difficulties. This is where counselling can be enormously helpful by providing a safe and confidential space where you can off-load and unpack these emotions, knowing you will be accepted and listened to in confidence and without judgement.
The relief which comes through this simple process can lead to fresh insight, self-acceptance and confidence. It is the privilege of being able to see this transformation taking place over the course of weekly sessions which makes my job as a counsellor so rewarding.
The trust between client and counsellor, is very important and I offer an initial free telephone conversation to learn a little about you and to answer any questions or concerns you might have. It will give you the opportunity to learn a little about the counselling process with me and if you feel it could work for you, before booking any sessions.
Training, qualifications & experience
I have a Postgraduate Diploma in Human Relations and Counselling from Human Development Scotland (formerly the Scottish Institute of Human Relations) and Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen.
I am a Senior Associate Member of the Association for Psychodynamic Practice and Counselling in Organisational Settings (APPCIOS)
I have worked as a volunteer counsellor with Place2Be and the PF Counselling Service.
I currently work with a homeless charity in Scotland providing both counselling and reflective practice sessions for small groups.
In my private practice I work extensively with a wide range of people - individuals and couples - of different ages and backgrounds, providing a safe and confidential space to explore life's challenges and anxieties, uncover hidden abilities and encourage confidence and positive routes forward.
I am a registered member of the BACP and COSCA and work within their ethical guidelines.
Member organisations
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.
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.
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
Coercive control
Therapies offered
Fees
£45.00 - £65.00
Free initial telephone session
Concessions offered for
When I work
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Mon, Tues and Thurs evenings online or telephone appointments only.
Fri in person appointments only.
