About me
Hello. I’m Veronica. I am an experienced relationships and couple counsellor trained to work with both individual clients and couples. My specialism is couple work having trained and worked with Relationships Scotland; and now in private practice.
From a place of kindness and compassion I’m pleased to be able to offer in-person sessions from my home in Buckstone, Edinburgh South, EH10; and virtually UK wide via Teams where you will be supported to talk and explore issues of importance to you.
I sit impartially, free from judgement to offer a therapeutic space to listen, support and understand how you experience your individual perspectives on your relationship. Your relationship is at the heart of our work together.
My approach:
Couple counselling:
Couple counselling can help partners to view the relationship in a more objective way, viewing problems as something involving both partners. Through active listening and talking in a supported and mediated counselling space together we can also utilise a variety of evidence based approaches to inform the couple counselling process. This can include the principles underlying Emotionally-focused therapy and Attachment theory.
Emotionally focused therapy (EFT) is an evidence based approach which can enable you and your partner to identify common patterns and cycles that define your conflicts and enable you to shift out of positions that often keep you stuck. This model provides antedotes/practical strategies which can help you to become less stuck and better able to meet your needs in your relationship. We can explore how you interact with each other, helping you to express emotions and thoughts you may have been afraid to show each other.
Attachment focused therapy is based on Attachment theory and identifies three main attachment styles: secure, avoidant and anxious. We can work together to help you to understand your attachment style and how these learned behaviours from childhood impact your couple relationship dynamics with each other. Your attachment beliefs influence who you are and how you behave in your close adult relationships. It can be valuable work within the couple counselling process.
In addition, helpful principles, strategies and worksheets/homework advocated and compiled from resources such as The Gottman Institute can be utilised in the couple counselling process to help understand your patterns of communication, conflict, and repeating cycles of behaviour all of which are negatively impacting your relationship.
Overall, couple counselling can help you to understand and influence the dynamics of your relationship in order to find lasting solutions to challenges faced. It can also enable you to work through relationship loss and endings.
Individual counselling: We can work together on matters of importance to you. This can include support and exploration of your mental health concerns including anxiety and depression. I particularly like ACT - acceptance and commitment therapy - for its evidence based approach to mental health. We can use its underlying principles in our work together.
I understand that taking the first step takes courage. Talking about your issues and offering a space to be listened to can be hugely healing and transformative.
I aim to work therapeutically in order for you to be heard and supported. I am able to offer both short and long-term counselling in line with your individual needs.
I look forward to our first contact via email where I will be happy to answer any questions you may have. When making an enquiry please state your preference for in-person or online sessions and the days/times you can attend.
The first introductory session is a full, 50 minute session. It provides an opportunity for us to meet and for you to decide whether we are a good therapeutic fit. I do not offer free, 15 minute or similar introductory calls or introductory virtual sessions. I have found it helpful to meet for a full session which enables important information to be shared and any questions you may have, answered.
When you make contact, I will respond within 48 hours so as to make an introductory appointment. Please check your spam if you have not received a response. Messages have occasionally ended up in clients' mailboxes.
Training, qualifications & experience
Diploma in Relationships Counselling - Relationships Scotland - Accredited by Napier University and COSCA.
Certificate in Counselling Skills - Edinburgh College.
Masters degree in Occupational Therapy and Psychology - University of London.
Masters degree in Psychology - University of Dundee.
Relationship counselling: I have undertaken specialist relationship counselling training and employment as a couples counsellor within the not-for-profit sector - Relationship Scotland - This has uniquely prepared me for working with both couples and individual clients.
Trauma informed counselling: I have experience of trauma informed practice through my counselling volunteer work within the charitable sector - Rape Crisis and Relationship Scotland. Prior to my counselling training I worked as a therapist within NHS children's psychological services.
Bereavement counselling: I have previously worker as a volunteer counsellor with Cruse Scotland for clients experiencing unresolved grief and loss.
Member organisations
school Registered / Accredited
Being registered/accredited with a professional body means an individual must have achieved a substantial level of training and experience approved by their member organisation.
The National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society This Not For Profit association of counsellors and psychotherapists aim to support the counselling profession, members and training organisations. In 2013 the NCS register was accredited by the Professional Standards Authority under the Accredited Voluntary Register Scheme. Accredited by the Professional Standards Authority.
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 - £80.00
Concessions offered for
Additional information
The therapeutic hour is 50 minutes. To allow for arrival and leaving sessions we work within an hour.
Individual counselling is charged at £60 per hour.
Couple counselling is charged at £80 per hour.
Our first session together will last an hour and is charged at the counselling hourly rate of £60 for individuals and £80 for couples. Flexibility can be discussed in terms of weekly or fortnightly sessions. I offer both daytime and evening slots online. My in-person sessions are available Monday to Wednesday. I am happy to offer flexibility for those who work shifts.
Due to family commitments and my place of work being my home, I offer evening in-person sessions on a Monday and Tuesday only.
When I work
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Further information
For in person sessions, I work from my family home in the South of Edinburgh. This is a safe and comfortable space. It is easily accessible on a number of bus routes from the city centre.
