Sam Gardner
Every professional displayed on Counselling Directory has been independently verified by our team to ensure they have suitable credentials to practise.
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 you're fine, without having to know exactly what’s wrong. There are no demands on you here. We will work with what arises, and I will help you explore what's going on at your pace.
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, or work-related stress. You may have been coping as best you can, hoping things will improve, while feeling increasingly sad, numb or overwhelmed.
I will do my best to 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 share with you my sense of your experience, invite you to gently bring your attention to things that I notice, building self-awareness and compassion. I'll stay in close contact while giving you plenty of space to explore.
A good fit between client and counsellor is an important part of therapy and I hope that my presence will put you at ease and help regulate your nervous system. Connection with someone you come to trust is very restorative and can allow your system to open up to new experiences and possibilities, both in and out of therapy.
How do I get in touch?
Please email or send a message to say hello. I am happy to answer any questions you have. If an introductory call would be helpful, we can arrange a 20 minute chat by phone or video call.
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
Fees
£55.00 per session
When I work
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morning | |||||||
| Afternoon | |||||||
| Evening | |||||||
| Night |
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.
