Professional, bespoke counselling service designed for you

Very central, just off Rosemount Viaduct on Gilcomston Park. If going up the viaduct and turning right into Gilcomston Park it is the first black door on your left, part of Skene House.

If there is a waiting list, I always keep my future clients up to date with an email every 3 weeks so you can see the progress you are making along the waiting list. And you are of course welcome to touch base with me at any time for additional updates.

Very limited, just an emergency contact form to complete and then agree to and sign off my contract of information.

Therapy can help in a variety of different ways depending on your needs. It can be a really safe place to offload, an empathic ear with an outside perspective, help motivate you get to where you want to be in your life or help find coping mechanisms for whatever it is you are struggling with. It can also be a place for personal growth in many different ways - such as learning how to say what you need to your partner or manager, share how you feel to those around you, improve on certain aspects of your personality, - generally become more self-aware! The list is quite long…… or it can just be to share your story.

First session is very relaxed. It’s just myself letting you know what the counselling process looks like and how you can use your sessions to get the best out of them. I then start to get to know you and understand what’s brought you to counselling. Most importantly it’s an opportunity for you to get to know me, start to trust me and ask me any questions you like or discuss any concerns you might have. Most clients at the end of their first session give a big sigh of relief, some comments ive received have been - ‘that was more of a relaxed setting than I imagined’ or say ‘that wasnt as scary as I thought it would be’ or that was much easier than I imagined’ and then they look forward to the next session!

Sessions are generally held at the same time and place each week and last around 50 minutes. I will give you my full attention and gently encourage you to talk about and explore feelings and thoughts about yourself, your relationships, your past, and what you are presently finding challenging in life. I won’t ever judge you or tell you what to do, but I will simply work to understand you as an individual, and then ask useful questions that help you explore things further and find a way forward.

I strongly believe in being flexible to your needs and its possible I may offer other therapeutic approaches, tools and techniques, so that you can obtain the maximum benefit and long lasting change from our sessions. We will discuss whatever you would like to discuss, at your pace, on your desired topic. If there is something difficult you want to talk about we do that when you are ready, and if you start and then change your mind, that’s ok too. Its always based around you. I also offer psychoeducation sessions. These are sessions to prepare you for those really difficult sessions, so you can learn a bit more about how the body and brain work, especially under pressure and also take comfort in knowing what we can do if you feel overwhelmed at any point and how I can best comfort you during that time.

Yes date, day, time, location or online method is confirmed and any paperwork sent.

My role is not really to give you advice, but to firstly and foremost to listen and then to help you look at things with a fresh perspective, consider all options, help motivate you, and sit along side you in finding those answers you may be seeking.

It takes as long as you would like it to. There is no pressure to get to a certain point, by a certain time. I do offer 6 weekly checkins to all my clients. Which means around every 6 sessions we take a time out (approximately 10 minutes or for as long as you like) and reflect on what we have done, explore what you would like going forwards and also make sure you are still coming away from each session feeling you are getting something out of it.

Yes! Therapy can be for so many different things, large and small but everyone deserves a little support, empathy and a really safe and non-judgemental space. That’s the great thing about therapy. You can really be yourself without any fear of judgement or anxiety.

If you feel comfortable, at ease, safe, not judged in any way then these are good signs the Counsellor is a good match for you. Obviously if they are qualified and with a professional body that is important too.

Once we are ready to start, a weekly appointment day and time will be offered to you. You are then open to decide if that matches with your schedule and if so we book that in and that is your weekly time going forward. You will receive a text or email reminder depending on the type of counselling you have chosen 24 hrs prior to each of your appointments.

I will carry out 6 weekly check ins with yourself, and at which time we can discuss how you are feeling and how things are progressing.

You can also tell your therapy has been working if you are starting to use the skills you have learnt in sessions outwith the sessions. For example, noticing you are putting boundaries in place, being more assertive, or making time for self-care. Whatever your goals are, you will know when have achieved them.

The terms are used interchangeably in the UK. A person with a psychotherapy certification may, for example, call themselves a counsellor. Although it can be said that psychotherapy is the more likely of the two to be long-term and in-depth, the real difference is simply your therapist's chosen training.