About me
I run Developing Positives, a counselling and therapy service which operates from Banchory, Aberdeenshire, but with an international reach. I can meet clients face to face in Banchory, and I also offer online options in order to meet clients who live out with the area.
As a qualified Pluralistic Therapist, I work in a person-centred way and can incorporate a number of techniques into our work together. This means I can draw upon psychodynamic approaches, cognitive behavioural approaches, creative techniques, and other therapeutic methods.
I have experience in working with a large variety of issues and invite potential clients to arrange a free call with me in order for them to make sure they feel I am the right fit for what they are looking for.
Some of the more common issues I deal with include stress, anxiety, depression, issues with image, loss, bereavement, substance use, relationship issues, isolation, sudden change, and medical issues. This list is not exhaustive and is offered only to illustrate that there is no one issue that can bring a person to seek support – there are many.
As a qualified therapist, I am a registered member of the BACP, and I comply fully with all requirements of registration to ensure a safe and secure service for every client.
Training, qualifications & experience
Here I offer a summary of the qualifications that I have obtained, and which I do find can be helpful in my work with clients. That said, counselling is not about “diagnosing” clients with theories - theories are useful, but they need to be applied at the right time and in the right place. I am a firm believer that the client is the expert of their own life, and I am simply being invited in to assist them at this point in time.
- Diploma in Pluralistic Counselling and Therapy (Grounded Learning)
- Counselling Skills Certificate (COSCA/University of the West of Scotland)
- PhD - Is there a role for therapeutic photography in social work with groups (Robert Gordon University)
- Postgraduate Certificate Research Methods (Robert Gordon University)
- Postgraduate Certificate in Adult Support, Protection and Safeguarding (University of St Andrews)
- Graduate Certificate Practice Learning Qualification (Robert Gordon University)
- Postgraduate Certificate in Addictions (Glasgow University)
- MSc in Applied Social Studies (Robert Gordon University)
- Postgraduate Diploma in Social Work (Robert Gordon University)
- Bachelor of Arts in Communication (Napier University)
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
£30.00 - £60.00
Concessions offered for
Further information
I am from Scotland and am married with two children. I have travelled extensively and believe that we should never stop learning about the world around us. I used to work in the media, travel and tourism, social work, and education. I have therapeutically supported a huge number of people in my career so far and enjoyed seeing change bring positive results. I am fortunate to have worked with children and young people in the care system, people who have behavioural problems, substance use issues, criminal convictions, carers who feel they have lost their identity, adults who may be at risk of harm, hospital patients undergoing significant loss and change, and many other people who are at crisis point and need support. This is not an exhaustive list.
There is no issue that is off limits for me. I work in a way that appreciates your uniqueness, your individuality, and your background - whatever is causing you stress, anxiety, worry or concern, you will have a safe space to deal with it in collaboration with me. Often people cannot pin point what the issue is, and that is why it can be so helpful to speak to a trained professional like myself.
