About me
Counselling/Psychotherapy and Mindfulness Training Based in West Lothian
Face-to-Face and Online
Typically Sessions: Weekly lasting for 50 minutes.
Hello and thank you for taking the time to read through my profile.
If you feel in need of help please reach out. I offer an initial, free 15-minute phone consultation to better understand your needs and situation. As your therapist/teacher I am here to support you and - above all - to listen without judgement.
My training was mainly rooted in CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy). This provided me with a solid foundational knowledge of evidence-based, NHS-endorsed treatments for mental health issues such as anxiety disorders, depression, phobias, trauma and many others.
However, my experience has taught me that the CBT approach does not work for everyone. There exist many other therapeutic methods which can be just as effective depending on the nature of the individual and the problem presented.
For this reason I take a person-centred or integrative approach - which is to say I begin every initial meeting with a client with open ears and an open mind. Only then can I gather a more subtle and empathetic understanding of:
- who you are;
- why you are sitting in front of me;
- how you are experiencing your life;
- what your difficulty is as well as what kind of therapy might best work for you.
The very process of acknowledging that one wants or needs help from a professional therapist can be challenging and even frightening for many.
If this is the case for you, some of the following statements regarding what you can expect from me might provide some reassurance.
As your therapist I will:
- Provide a private and confidential space where you can discuss and explore anything that you feel you have to or want to.
- Listen to whatever you bring without judgement.
- Do my best to support you within our mutually agreed boundaries.
- Try as much as I possibly can to witness the events of your life as narrated through your unique experience – as nuanced or complicated as that may feel or seem.
- Never rush or push you to discuss anything that you are not fully ready to discuss.
- Openly share any knowledge I have that I feel may be beneficial for your well-being and/or help you to achieve your goals.
- Provide you with ideas and inspiration to improve your life.
- Work with you on a collaborative basis in the firm belief that the person who knows you best is you – even though it doesn’t always feel this way. (My aim is not to tell you what you’re getting wrong but rather to gain a gradual and sensitive understanding of how you see the world and help you find ways of feeling more at ease and even happier within it.)
- Always be transparent with my observations and experience as we sit together in therapy if that is what you require.
Training, qualifications & experience
- SCOTACS Diploma in Counselling and Group Work - A CBT (Cognitive Behaviour Therapy) Approach
- COSCA Certificate in Counselling Skills
- University of Sussex - PhD in Literature
- University of Stirling - BA English Literature (First Class)
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
Spiritual crisis
Near-Death Experiences (NDEs)
Therapies offered
Fees
£50.00 - £60.00
Additional information
I offer a free 15-minute phone consultation to begin our journey in therapy together. If you feel happy to work with me and I am an appropriate therapist for you we will organise a first in-person meeting at the reduced rate of £50.
When I work
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Further information
I am a certified counsellor and psychotherapist and a registered member of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) which ensures Safe and Ethical Practice.
