
My training to becoming a practicing counsellor began over ten years ago.
My experience builds on a decade of working with clients of differing ages, ethnicities, genders, sexualities and backgrounds, who have sought counselling for a range of problems and issues. I have worked in various counselling agencies and organisations and in 2012 I set up my own private practice.
In private practice I usually work one-to-one with adults and young people aged 12 years and over from my counselling room in Kilmarnock but at this time I am offering Telephone Counselling only to individual adults.
In addition to a Postgraduate Certificate in Therapeutic Counselling Skills; I hold two Postgraduate Diplomas, the first in Therapeutic Counselling (Integrative Pathway) and the second in Counselling Children and Young People.
My first postgraduate diploma qualified me to call myself a Relational Integrative Counsellor. This means that I am qualified, trained and experienced in applying and integrating compatible elements, techniques and theoretical understanding into my work with all my clients from:
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
- Humanism (including Person-Centred Counselling and Existential Perspective)
- Relational Psychodynamic Approach
I continued in my professional development and progressed onto the Postgraduate Diploma Counselling Children and Young People course, which complements my initial training, drawing from:
- The Proactive Model
My work with young people is dynamic, spontaneous and creative, allowing my young clients the freedom to explore and resolve issues. I gained valuable experience in using a wide range of creative tools which are often implemented when working therapeutically with young people. When befitting, these tools are also incorporated in my work with adults.
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Related Work Experience
Presently I work within:
- My own practice, which I began in 2012.
- A charity, where I provide support to and work with Survivors of rape and childhood sexual abuse, aged 13 years and above.
- A service as a specially trained perinatal counsellor, working one-to-one with expectant or new parents experiencing anxiety, depression, low self-esteem or any other negative feelings before or after having their baby/babies.
- A Secondary School as a School Based Counsellor, working with 11 to 18-year-olds.
- The counselling service of a housing association, working predominantly with young mothers who, for a range of reasons, accessed the association for support.
- A mental health and wellbeing service, where I offered counselling and support to anyone living with, recovering from and/or affected by depression.
- A project that predominantly offered support and counselling to any adults living with or affected by alcohol problems. I also worked with clients who accessed counselling through the project for other substance abuse issues too.
My Qualifications
- Postgraduate Diploma Counselling Children and Young People
- Postgraduate Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling: Integrative Pathway (BACP Accredited Course)
- Postgraduate Certificate in Counselling Skills (BACP Accredited Course)
- BSc (Hons) Psychology
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Professional Membership
As a member of the BACP, I am required to undertake continuous professional development (CPD) and partake in regular supervision. CPD and supervision are resources which enhance and maintain my skills and knowledge to help develop and focus my practice and to ensure that I am working ethically, and to the best of my abilities, with my clients.
PVG Scheme MembershipI am a PVG Scheme member
(Scheme record disclosure issued under section 52 of the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act 2007) |
Professional Indemnity InsuranceI carry full professional indemnity insurance.
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