Counselling and Psychotherapy in Aberdeenshire

About Me

I started to train as a counsellor while working, for eight years, as an occupational therapist in mental health. What drew me to the work was an interest in how people respond differently to what life throws at them. Often it seemed that past experiences could influence how people respond in the present. Through talking about what was happening, how they thought and felt people would realise that they had absorbed and accepted ideas about themselves almost without being really aware of it. Through exploring and challenging these thoughts and feelings choice for change could be opened up. To take this further I trained and qualified gaining a diploma in counselling and accreditation with B.A.C.P.


QUALIFICATIONS



B.Sc.(Hons.)first class 1998


Diploma in Psychodynamic Counselling 2003


Psychodynamic counselling stresses the importance of the unconscious and past experience influencing present patterns of behaviour.


Accreditation with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy 2005

UKRC Registered Independent Counsellor 2006

As part of my continual professional development I have trained in other types of therapy such as-

Solution Focused Therapy, Short Term Psychotherapy and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. More recently I have become interested,and done some training, in Mindfulness based therapy.


Since returning to Aberdeenshire in 2006 I have become accredited with COSCA, the Scottish Counselling Association and am member of the Aberdeen Counselling Forum.


At present my practice involves private work, my details can be found on the BACP listing. I provide a counselling service for individuals who contact me seeking a place to work through the issues that are troubling them. I also provide a service to various employee providers, EAPS, where an employer offers a limited number of confidential sessions to an employee through a separate agency.

In the past I set up and provided a GP counselling service, through Pillar Kincardine based in Stonehaven, I have also worked with Banff and Buchan Voluntary Counselling Service and have done some group work and teaching with Pathways.

I continue to involve myself with training, keeping up to date through BACP, and building up contacts with other counselling agencies. My practice is within easy reach of Aberdeen, Peterhead, Inverurie, Ellon and rural areas in Aberdeenshire.


I would be happy to discuss any of my professional experience with you.