Sam Gardner
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This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
Counselling is a place where you can let go of pretending to be fine, without having to know exactly what’s wrong. There are no demands on you here. I will help you explore what's going on at a pace and depth that is right for you.
Or perhaps you do have a pretty good idea of what you’re struggling with. It might be anxiety and/or depression, loneliness, low self-esteem, work stress or relationship issues. You may have been coping as best you can, hoping things will improve, while feeling increasingly sad or overwhelmed. Sometimes, unresolved trauma shows up in the fabric of our lives. We can carry stress in our system that has become stuck because there hasn't been a safe enough space for it to be resolved.
I will meet you where you are and listen to you with sensitivity, checking that I am understanding you accurately. This in itself can bring relief and energy back into your body. I'll invite you to gently bring attention to thoughts, feelings and sensations that it may be helpful to notice and explore further. Sometimes, when we pause at a place in our story we usually overlook, or stay with a feeling that we tend to dismiss, we get an opportunity to see and feel things differently.
The relationship between us is at the heart of good effective therapy and it is my hope that as we build a connection, you will feel your nervous system ease and settle. This restorative process can allow for new perspectives, experiences and possibilities, both in and out of therapy.
I work with individuals and with couples. Relationship work is not limited to romantic partners and applies to friends, siblings, colleagues and other pairs.
How do I get in touch?
Please email or send a message to get in touch. I am happy to answer any questions you have by email or we can arrange a phone call if this would be helpful. Often, arranging to meet for a first session provides the space to get into things in full and gives you a good sense of how it feels to work with me.
I work from the Southside centre on Causewayside which is in easy reach of Newington, The Meadows and Marchmont, Edinburgh University, Bruntsfield, Morningside and beyond.
Training, qualifications & experience
Postgraduate Diploma with Distinction in Person-Centred Counselling and Psychotherapy from Aberdeen University/ Persona Development and Training Postgraduate Certificate with Distinction in Counselling from Edinburgh University.
I love learning and regularly attend training courses for my professional development. Recently, I have been learning about the connections between our brain, body and how this affects our relationships, as well as how our relationships affect our brains and body. This level of understanding complements my core training and supports the way I work with you.
I have experience working at two Edinburgh-based counselling agencies, as well as in private practice, with clients who have experience of and issues relating to:
depression, anxiety, relationships, abuse, trauma, family conflict, loss, stress, loneliness, sexuality, perfectionism, overworking and burnout, boundaries and a search for self/identity.
This is not an exhaustive list and you do not need to see yourself in one of these concerns to get in touch with me. I work with you, as a whole person, as we explore what brings you to see me.
I have significant experience with my own counselling. As well as increasing my self-awareness and understanding, this helps me to fully appreciate the vulnerability and uncertainty of being a client and what it can take to talk about difficult feelings and experiences. I will gladly discuss any concerns you have at any stage of the process. I see my experiences as a client as a central part of my practice and as a rich support for our therapeutic work together.
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
Photos & videos
Fees
£60.00 per session
Additional information
Individual Counselling: £60 per session.
Couples and Relationship Counselling: £70 per 60 minute session. Longer sessions are also an option.
When I work
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I may have availability outwith the given times, please enquire as I am flexible where possible.
Further information
I will need to collect some basic information from you so that I can contact you and in case of emergency. This information will be stored in accordance with GDPR and not used for any other purpose.
I am a member of BACP and I abide by their code of ethics.
