Michelle Rutherford; BSC Hons; PGDip PCC; MBACP, MFHT
About me
*I'm currently delivering therapy online and face to face (limited availability). My website has resources re: COVID-19 support. Email me for appts. It's a stressful time, take care of yourself.*
Hi, thanks for stopping by my profile and for taking the first step to finding a person-centred, emotion-focused therapist and counsellor.
Problems and issues in our lives can sometimes be difficult to admit or express so this first step is a really important one but it can also feel daunting and unfamiliar to do. I hope I can be of some help for you as we find a way together for you to live your best life.
Often problems and difficulties in one area of our life can throw other areas out of balance. I offer an unforced, non judgemental approach to therapy where all aspects of your life experiences are held and honoured to help to promote balance, change and growth.
What I do:
I'm working online currently, PVG registered and a qualified Person-Centred counsellor/psychotherapist, psychologist and a complementary therapist with nearly twenty years of experience in these therapies.
Holding all that you bring in a held, therapeutic space will enable you to explore and make sense of your difficulties, problems and experiences. I offer an accepting, held space and I will work with you as the expert in your own life.
Our time together will be a space of celebration and support as well. Therapy can be very hard, emotional work at times and so we’ll definitely be celebrating the good bits in your life too, not just acknowledging the struggles.
My Experience and Interests:
My experience is in a wide range of presenting problems (such as anxiety, low self-esteem, fears, sadness, attachment issues, loss, regret, fear of change and so on).
I have a particular interest in: children and young person's counselling, childhood trauma and adverse childhood experiences (ACE's), perinatal (before baby) and postnatal (after baby), family issues, family estrangements, relationship issues, boarding school, military experiences, as well as enjoying working with individuals and couples. I also run mindfulness sessions for small groups (currently suspended).
Having lived and been schooled abroad and with an ongoing love for travel, I enjoy and welcome the rich diversity that different cultures and customs brings. I equally know well the hardship and difficulties that not feeling included and/or welcomed can also bring and I offer the safe, unjudgemental space to talk about this should it be negatively affecting your life.
What I offer:
We can work together face to face in short and/or long-term therapy sessions or online or by telephone for times when mobility difficulties, social distancing or anonymity make it preferable.
Training, qualifications & experience
- PG Diploma in Psychological wellbeing, Counselling and Psychotherapy (Person Centred)
- Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT) Level II
- Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT) Level I
- Certificate in Children and Young People Counselling
- COSCA Certificate in Counselling Skills
- Complementary Therapies (FHT Accredited member)
- BSc Hons Psychology
- Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT) Mindfulness
- BACP Registered Member
As well as loving working in my busy private practice, I'm also happily working in a secondary school with children and young people and in a private company Employee Assistance Programme. "Find a job you love and you'll never have to work a day in your life" - Mark Twain.
Other charities I've volunteer experience in are: a perinatal service in Glasgow, a generic counselling service in Clydebank, Ayr and EAP services in North Lanarkshire. I run mindfulness based classes in the Southside of Glasgow as well as in Irvine.
Member organisations
British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy
BACP is one of the UK’s largest professional bodies for counselling and psychotherapy. Therapists registered with the Association fall into a number of different membership categories such as Individual Member, Registered Member MBACP and Registered Member MBACP (Accred), each standing for different levels of training and experience. MBACP (Accred) and MBACP (Snr Accred) members have achieved a substantial level of training and experience approved by the Association.
Registered members can be found on the BACP Register, which was the first register to achieve Accredited Voluntary Register status issued by the Professional Standards Authority. Individual Members will have completed an appropriate counselling and/or psychotherapy course and started to practise, but will not appear on the BACP Register until they've progressed to Registered Member MBACP status.
All members are bound by a Code of Ethics & Practice and a Complaints Procedure. Accredited by the Professional Standards Authority.
College of Sexual and Relationship Therapists
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.
Accredited register membership
Accredited Register Scheme
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
£50 per 50 minute session.
Reduced rates are available for students and low income clients with proof of circumstances.
I offer a free 15 minute phone consultation for you to see whether you can and want to work with me for more sessions.
Sessions will normally take place at the same time, on the same day weekly (or how often you decide you need). This is open to discussion between us as sometimes life gets in the way and changes might need to be made on both sides.
Cancellation or rescheduling of a session should be notified within 48 hours and if less than 24 hours prior, then a fee will be charged for late cancellations.
Payment can be by bank transfer, PayPal or in cash at the start of every session. Receipts can be issued for cash payments.
Availability
I'm currently delivering therapy online. My website has resources re: COVID-19 support. Email me for appts. It's a stressful time, take care of yourself.
Further information
Thanks for taking the time to read my profile.
I look forward to meeting you and walking beside you as you make the decision to live the life you want to have.
