About me
Hi, I’m Nick - I'm a qualified counsellor living and working in Edinburgh - I offer online sessions to clients across the UK and in-person sessions in Edinburgh. I specialise in working with trans and non-binary folks, and am myself a trans man. I also often work with LGBTQIA+ people, neurodivergent folks and anyone who wishes to explore issues related to identity, shame, depression, anxiety or low self-esteem.
I recognise that people come to therapy for so many different reasons; sometimes it's to gain a better understanding of ourselves or our relationships. Some come to process painful emotions or memories that are keeping them feeling stuck or hurt. Some people come to learn new skills to help them navigate a difficult time in life - for others, they need a space to be fully heard and understood, without having to take care of or educate the person they're speaking to.
I offer a warm, supportive space where you can be yourself, without judgement or pressure to be any particular way. Therapy with me is collaborative - we take time to really understand your experience and explore what the best way forward for you might look like.
I’m a pluralistic therapist, which means I don’t believe there’s one “right” way to do therapy. I draw on a range of approaches and tools - from person-centred therapy, attachment theory, ACT and creative approaches. I adapt the work to suit your needs rather than forcing you into a one-size-fits-all model. I pay close attention to how therapy feels for you, and I welcome feedback so we can shape the work together.
I offer a free 30-minute consultation via zoom where I offer a sense of how I work and chat through what working together might look like.
For more info about how I work feel free to visit my website at www.oakringcounselling.com
Training, qualifications & experience
Experience
I have particular experience working with trans, non-binary, and gender-questioning clients - supporting them in exploring their gender identity, navigating coming out, beginning transition, and building resilience in the face of transphobia and homophobia.
As a queer trans man, I bring my lived experience and understanding to this work, alongside professional training and a deeply affirming, compassionate approach. My aim is to offer a space where you can explore identity, relationships, and experiences at your own pace, knowing that you’ll be met with respect and care.
Trauma-Informed Practice
I’m trained and certified in trauma work, and I bring that understanding into every session. Being trauma-informed means I recognise how experiences that have left us feeling unsafe can continue to shape our lives in lasting ways. I know that bringing these experiences into therapy can feel vulnerable or even destabilising if not handled with care, so I work gently and collaboratively to make sure the process feels as safe and grounded as possible.
Qualifications and Training
MSc Counselling and Psychotherapy – Abertay University
COSCA Counselling Skills – Edinburgh College
Certified Clinical Trauma Professional, Levels I & II (CCTP-I, CCTP-II)
Sessions
I currently offer online and in-person therapy for adults only. Sessions are 60 minutes online and 50 minutes in-person, though we can adapt this if you find shorter or slightly longer sessions more comfortable, I aim to work flexibly to meet your needs. Sessions can take place weekly or fortnightly, and we can discuss what rhythm feels most supportive for you.
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
£55.00 per session
Concessions offered for
Additional information
All of my lower cost spaces are currently filled, I review how many lower cost spaces I can offer regularly and post an update whenever a space becomes available.
When I work
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I work online through the week and offer in-person sessions at The Healing Therapy Centre in Meadowbank on a Saturday morning and early afternoon.
