Shona Macpherson
About me
I offer counselling to help you bring about effective change in your life. This could be changes in your actions, changes in the way you think, or most likely both.
The types of things people work with me on
The types of stuckness people often want to work on are sadness and depression, body image issues, anxiety, grief, stress, low self confidence and boredom with life. I also work with clients who have binge eating disorder, whilst they await NHS support.
What do we actually do?
In the first couple of sessions we’ll work on an assessment to get a clear picture of what’s bothering you and what you'd like to get from therapy. The assessment is part of the work and will help you gain more understanding into your problem also.
From there we’ll explore in more depth, working together to help you gain more understanding, find new perspectives and learn new skills, in order to help you move towards your therapy goals.
What type of counsellor am I?
I’m an integrative counsellor which means I draw on different approaches to counselling depending on your needs. My training and experience is both in behavioural and humanistic counselling (Acceptance Commitment Therapy and Person Centred Counselling).
I'm led by you and what you bring. This doesn't mean I sit and nod and repeat things back at you the whole session (like the cliche from the movies). I'll work hard with you to help you find ways to navigate the situation you are feeling stuck in. Our work will be very practical, including practical exercises if you are willing.
Getting started
Email, text or call me to arrange a complimentary 20 minute chat. In this chat I'll ask you a little bit more about what you are looking to work on and I'll explain more about how I work. You can ask any questions. From there we can decide if we'd be a good fit to work together.
I also offer Counselling Outdoors. Read more on my website: http://shonacounselling.co.uk/counselling-outdoors/
Training, qualifications & experience
Training, qualifications & experience
I originally trained and worked as an nurse and then as an aid worker overseas. I was in my early 30s when I embarked on my counselling training. My formal qualifications in counselling are:
Post Graduate Diploma in Counselling (Person Centred and Existential Therapy).
Thames Valley University, London. 2008-2010
Certificate in the Integration of Cognitive Behavioural Skills.
The Grove, London. 2011.
Introduction to ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy).
Praxis Online. March 2020.
ACT for Depression and Anxiety Disorders.
Psychwire online. April 2020.
DBT Skills Psychwire online. April 2020.
Taking Therapy Outdoors Certificate. Centre for Natural Reflection, Hayley Marshall, PTSTA. Taking Therapy Outdoors. October 2020
Currently studying ACT for Trauma (Psychewire) (June 2020).
Registered MemberBACP British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapist. 380820
Professional Member of Association for Contextual Behavioral Science (ACBS)
Member organisations
British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy
BACP is one of the UK’s largest professional bodies for counselling and psychotherapy. Therapists registered with the Association fall into a number of different membership categories such as Individual Member, Registered Member MBACP and Registered Member MBACP (Accred), each standing for different levels of training and experience. MBACP (Accred) and MBACP (Snr Accred) members have achieved a substantial level of training and experience approved by the Association.
Registered members can be found on the BACP Register, which was the first register to achieve Accredited Voluntary Register status issued by the Professional Standards Authority. Individual Members will have completed an appropriate counselling and/or psychotherapy course and started to practise, but will not appear on the BACP Register until they've progressed to Registered Member MBACP status.
All members are bound by a Code of Ethics & Practice and a Complaints Procedure. Accredited by the Professional Standards Authority.
Accredited register membership
Accredited Register Scheme
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
- Nature connection. (In October 2020 I will be receiving training in "Taking Therapy Outdoors).
- Connection with values.
- Motivation.
- Making peace with your relationship with your body.
- Making peace with your relationship with food.
Therapies offered
Photos & videos
Availability
I've availability for new clients. I work Tuesdays, Wednesday and Thursdays 9-7pm and occasionally on Fridays.
Further information
I work via webcam on Zoom or Skye and also offer telephone counselling. Once COVID restrictions lift I'll be offering face to face work in Inverness also.
I strive to be aware of, and to challenge my own assumptions and biases. I actively seek to create spaces – both in-person and online – that are inclusive. I seek to be anti racist. I seek to be LGBTQ supportive.