Mary McNeil
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This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
Supporting Individuals through life’s challenges, Including religious trauma, faith transitions & personal growth
A Safe & Supportive Space for Change
Are you feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure how to move forward? Whether you're navigating a difficult life transition, struggling with self-doubt, or healing from past experiences, therapy can help. I provide a warm, confidential, and supportive space where you can explore your thoughts and feelings without judgment. Together, we’ll work towards the changes you want to see in your life, helping you gain clarity, confidence, and a renewed sense of self.
As a pluralistic therapist, I tailor therapy to your specific needs, drawing from different approaches to ensure a meaningful and effective experience. I have a particular specialist interest in supporting individuals who have experienced religious trauma, faith transitions, control in relationships or faith groups, and issues of self-worth.
How I Work
I believe therapy should be structured yet flexible, adapting to your unique goals and experiences. My approach helps you:
✅ Feel truly heard and understood in a safe, non-judgmental space
✅ Identify what’s holding you back and gain tools to move forward
✅ Develop self-compassion and confidence in your decisions
✅ Navigate faith transitions, relationship struggles, and emotional challenges with clarity
I respect the unique strengths, cultural backgrounds, and personal values of every client. Therapy isn’t about fitting into a one-size-fits-all model—it’s about finding what works for you.
My Experience & Specialisms
I am a BACP-registered counsellor with extensive experience supporting individuals through complex life challenges, including:
✔ Religious trauma & faith transitions – Finding your own path after experiences of spiritual abuse or control
✔ Anxiety & self-doubt – Reducing worry and increasing self-confidence
✔ Procrastination & motivation struggles – Overcoming feeling ‘stuck’ in life or work
✔ Relationship & family difficulties – Understanding unhealthy dynamics and building stronger boundaries
✔ Grief, loss & life transitions – Adjusting to change and finding meaning in new chapters of life
Alongside my private practice, I also work as a counsellor for an Edinburgh-based organization supporting survivors of sexual trauma. My professional background includes roles in nursing, mentoring, and disability support, giving me a deep understanding of both emotional and practical challenges in everyday life.
Qualifications & Professional Development
📌 MSc Counselling – Abertay University
📌 BSc Adult Nursing – Queen Margaret University
📌 Specialist research in trauma and abuse
📌 Regular training to stay up to date with evidence-based therapeutic approaches
What You Can Expect from Therapy
Working with a skilled therapist provides long-lasting benefits, giving you practical tools to overcome challenges, strengthen your relationships, and move forward with confidence. Therapy with me can help you:
✨ Gain a deeper understanding of yourself and your values
✨ Improve communication and relationship skills
✨ Learn effective coping strategies for stress, anxiety, and low moods
✨ Break free from self-doubt and build self-esteem
✨ Heal from past trauma and develop healthier emotional patterns
I provide individual therapy for adults (18+), both in-person in Dunbar and online.
Take the Next Step
If you’re ready to explore how therapy can help, I’d love to hear from you. Whether you prefer face-to-face sessions or online support, I offer a safe and supportive space to begin your journey.
Training, qualifications & experience
Training, qualifications & experience
- MSc Counselling Abertay University.
- BSc Adult Nursing. Queen Margaret University.
- Dactari Foundation Training in Domestic Abuse Counselling
- LivingWorks ASIST Suicide Intervention Skills.
As part my postgraduate training , I conducted specialist research in to trauma and abuse, including within a systemic context. I have a particular specialist interest in supporting individuals who have experienced spiritual abuse or religious trauma.
I stay up to date with training and research, offering cutting edge support and evidence based approaches for clients. I have excellent tools for clients to use in therapy which help ensure that they have a clear understanding of what their goals are and if they are being met by therapy, enabling them to feel positive and engaged in the process.
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
- High Control Groups, spiritual abuse and religious trauma.
- Difficulties with parenting
Photos & videos
Fees
£60.00 per session
When I work
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I work face to face and online between the times of 9am and 3pm Monday/Tuesday and between 9-12 on Friday mornings. I work online between 5.30-9.30 pm on Mondays.
