About me
My introduction to therapy was as a client, which helped open my own eyes to new possibilities of living. While there are a multitude of reasons for any one of us to seek counselling/psychotherapy, there is usually a struggle, or ‘stuckness’ of some kind that is the prompt to reach for therapeutic support.
My practice is grounded in a psychodynamic approach, generating more understanding and new insights not only about what is happening for you now, but also around past experiences and earlier relationships, connecting what has happened to what is happening. Within the safety of a therapeutic relationship, deeper exploration and understanding become possible, as do new possibilities for change and growth.
Key to any successful therapy experience is the relationship between therapist and client. I work to create relational safety, along with compassionate understanding, and in doing so open more space to think and consider new perspectives. This is a collaborative and alive process in the room between us.
I bring warmth and curiosity to my work, without judgement or expectation. Therapy with me can be creative and spontaneous and could include working with aspects of storytelling, with images and objects, with the body as well as the mind, with spirituality and aspects of existentialism. I am passionate about story - how do we narrate our lives? What gets included? What has been lost or forgotten?
In couples therapy, safety and understanding remain key; however, the client is the relationship between the two of you. I work to help you both step back and see what patterns are playing out, the effect this is having on each of you, and the impact of this on your relationship. Working with a trained Couples' therapist can shift you both from being stuck in reactive patterns, and towards more mutual understanding, connection and growth - this can be transformative.
Graduating from Edinburgh University's Postgraduate Diploma with Merit, I am a registered member of BACP - British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy. I undertake regular continuing professional development, including training in American Relational Psychoanalysis.
I trained for two years in CreativeCoupleWork at the Centre for Gender Psychology, London. I’m cleared with Disclosure Scotland to work with U18s and have worked as a counsellor in Edinburgh schools. I also have a BAHons in English. I can provide an up-to-date list of CPD on request. I have full professional liability insurance, and like all UK-registered counsellors/psychotherapists, professional supervision is a regular part of my practice. I am also in two peer supervision groups.
My working background includes teaching in high schools, as well as working with families and communities for the National Literacy Trust. I also spent 5 years making and selling cheese biscuits for a living - change being an inevitable part of living. I lived in Bristol, Southampton and London before settling in Edinburgh in 2001.
Individual sessions are 50 mins and are weekly.
They can be face-to-face, online or by telephone and are charged on a sliding scale by agreement based on ability to pay: £55 - £75. A reduced rate is sometimes possible after discussion.
Couples’ sessions are usually fortnightly and are 60 mins, 75 mins or 90 mins. They can be face to face or online. Charges are on a sliding scale based on ability to pay:
60 mins £70 - £100; 75 mins £90 - £120; 90 mins £110 - £140.
I work with clients both in the short-term and longer-term. Endings are as important inside therapy as they are outside of it, and the intention is to end well, marking the transition with an agreed ending that we work towards together.
Training, qualifications & experience
- Postgraduate Certificate in Counselling & Postgraduate Diploma in Counselling (Merit). The University of Edinburgh
- Foundation Year and Advanced Year CreativeCouplesWork. Centre for Gender Psychology, London.
- I can provide an up-to-date list of Continuous Professional Development on request.
- I am an individual member of BACP and abide by their code of ethics. I have professional liability insurance.
- I am registered with Disclosure Scotland as a PVG (Protection of Vulnerable Groups) scheme member in respect of regulated work with children and adults.
- Postgraduate Certificate in Teaching.
- BA (Hons) English.
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 - £75.00
Concessions offered for
Additional information
- I work Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.
- Individual sessions are 50 mins and are weekly.
- They can be face to face, online or by telephone and are charged on a sliding scale by agreement based on ability to pay: £55 - £75. A reduced rate is sometimes possible after discussion.
- Couples’ sessions are usually fortnightly and are 60 mins, 75 mins or 90 mins. They can be face to face or online. Charges are on a sliding scale based on ability to pay:
- 60 mins £70 - £100; 75 mins £90 - £120; 90 mins £110 - £140.
When I work
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Further information
I work in two Edinburgh locations: The Counselling Studio on Causewayside (south part of the city) on Mondays and Wednesdays; and Dialogue & Space in Leith (north part of the city) on Thursdays.
Both locations involve one flight of stairs, and so do not have disabled access.
