I am a fully qualified BACP accredited counsellor, supervisor and EMDR therapist offering a confidential private counselling and supervision service working out of Inverclyde. Currently I am mainly seeing people remotely, and I’m not sure if/when I will be going back in in person sessions.
I originally trained in pluralistic therapy, which encompassed various models such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Person-Centered Therapy, and Transactional Analysis.
In my counselling approach, I prioritise collaboration, recognising that therapy is not a one-size-fits-all solution. At the beginning of our counselling sessions, we typically explore your goals for counselling and delve into your life history and present circumstances. We explore your preferences for counselling, what has proven effective in the past, and I offer my insights on what might be beneficial for you.
Together, we work in a collaborative manner, ensuring that the therapy progresses at a pace that is both safe and comfortable for you, while also being effective. I provide a non-judgmental listening space and actively work alongside you to uncover your inner experiences and identify the goals you wish to achieve through counselling.
What I Can Offer
Trauma focused therapies
I have trained in spealised trauma focused modalities since graduating, including EMDR, IFS and CRM.
EMDR therapy, or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing therapy, is an evidence-based approach used to address trauma, distressing memories, and other emotional difficulties. EMDR is known for its effectiveness in alleviating symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and promoting psychological healing and resilience. See more information here
Supervision
I offer comprehensive supervision for therapists, emphasising a collaborative approach that centers on your personal and professional growth. Together, we can focus on your specific goals and aspirations as a therapist, tailoring our work to meet your individual needs. Whether you're seeking support in enhancing your skills, expanding your theoretical knowledge, or navigating professional challenges, I am committed to providing guidance and fostering your development in a collaborative and empowering manner.
Diverse experience
In addition to my private practice, I am actively involved in teaching at the Open University, where I contribute to their Counselling and Psychology undergraduate course. I also work within Mankind in Brighton and Hove, offering counselling to men who have experienced sexual abuse.
Previously I have set up counselling services and worked or volunteered as a counsellor within a number of organisations since 2013, such as the NHS, Womens aid, Tayside Council on Alcohol, Rape Crisis and Childline. I’ve also taught the COSCA certificate in counselling skills at Perth College and Counselling modules with Ayrshire college.
Workshops
I have previously published work on working with trauma pluralistically, presented at conferences and delivered workshops focused on trauma work for counsellors. These workshops are designed to enhance counsellors' knowledge and skills in effectively addressing and working with trauma-related issues. Through interactive and engaging sessions, I provide insights, evidence-based approaches, and practical techniques to help counsellors develop a trauma-informed practice.
MA (Hons) in Psychology (Dundee University) (2013)
I have also completed further specialist training such as Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR), counselling for drug and alcohol misuse and Comprehensive Resource Model (CRM) training (see below).
Further Training and Courses
Certificate in Counselling Supervision (Glasgow Council on Alcohol) (2021-Ongoing)
QQI Level 9 Certificate in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (IICP) (2021)
Developing Skills in Couple Work (Tavistock Relationships) (2020)
Deep Brain Reorientating & Deep Brain Reorientating Advanced (Dr Frank Corrigan) (2020)
Treating Complex Trauma with Internal Family Systems (IFS) (Dr Frank Anderson) (2019)
EMDR and Ego State Therapy (Dr. Michael Paterson) (2019)
Healing the Fragmented Selves of Trauma Survivors: Overcoming Self-Alienation. (Dr. Janina Fisher) (2018)
EMDR Basic Training (Richman EMDR Training) (2017-18)
Working Safely and Therapeutically with Domestic Abuse. (BACP) (2016)
Comprehensive Resource Model Training (Lisa Schwartz) (2016)
Working Therapeutically with Gambling Addictions. (Gamcare) (2016)
Working Therapeutically with Trauma and Dissociation. (Carol Harrison) (2015)
Working with Dissociative Identity Disorder (First Person Plural) (2015)
Open College Network Level 3 Award for professional working in the sexual violence sector (West Midlands University) (2015)
Counselling for Gambling Problems (Accredited through GamCare) (2014)
Working with Survivors of Sexual Abuse (Rape Crisis Scotland) (2014)
Counselling for Alcohol/Substance Misuse (Accredited through Alcohol Focus Scotland) (2013)
COSCA Certificate in Counseling Skills (COSCA) (2012-13)
Training for Trainers in Suicide Alertness For Everyone (SAFE) talks (2012)
Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) (2011)
Cost
Cost Of Counselling
For individuals funding their own sessions I change £50 per session, which lasts 50 minutes to an hour. Longer sessions can be arranged if we both agree this would be helpful.
For EAP’s, insurance and companies prices vary so please get in touch to discuss this.
I aim to be as fair as possible with my cancellation fee, and ask for 24 hours notice if you need to cancel or re-arrange your appointment. If you don’t come to an arranged appointment, or cancel with under 24 hours notice I charge a cancellation fee of £20.
If you would like to talk to decide whether you would like counselling I’m happy arranging a time for a chat over the phone or through email.
How many sessions will I need
This can be a tough question, especially when getting counselling for the first time. If you are getting therapy funded through health insurance or an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) you may be limited to a specific number of sessions.
What you are looking to get from counselling will also be an important factor to consider. Some people may only need a short number of sessions to get what they want out of counselling, and some people may want to work more longer term. Throughout counselling we will regularly check in and make sure you are still finding it helpful
Organisations I work with
I take referrals or have previously worked with number of EAPs and insurance companies. Some of these are;
The 2023 International Conference on Pluralistic Counselling and Psychotherapy (2023) Presenting: Creating a Safe Enough Online Space for Trauma Processing
The First International Conference on Pluralistic Counselling and Psychotherapy (2018) Presenting: Working Pluralistically within Trauma Focused Organisations.
BPS Undergraduate Conference (2013) Presenting: Behavioural analysis of people’s reaction to the modified Strange Situation.
EMDR Therapy
What is EMDR?
The mind can often heal itself naturally, in the same way as the body does. Much of this natural coping mechanism occurs during sleep, particularly during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. Francine Shapiro developed Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) in 1987, utilising this natural process in order to successfully treat Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Since then, EMDR has been used to effectively treat a wide range of mental health problems. Below I will link some fantastic videos from EMDR associations that explain EMDR well, and who it can be helpful for.
What happens when you are traumatised?
Most of the time your body routinely manages new information and experiences without you being aware of it. However, when something out of the ordinary occurs and you are traumatised by an overwhelming event (e.g. a car accident) or by being repeatedly subjected to distress (e.g. childhood neglect), your natural coping mechanism can become overloaded. This overloading can result in disturbing experiences remaining frozen in your brain or being “unprocessed”. Such unprocessed memories and feelings are stored in the limbic system of your brain in a “raw” and emotional form, rather than in a verbal “story” mode.
This limbic system maintains traumatic memories in an isolated memory network that is associated with emotions and physical sensations, and which are disconnected from the brain’s cortex where we use language to store memories. The limbic system’s traumatic memories can be continually triggered when you experience events similar to the difficult experiences you have been through. Often the memory itself is long forgotten, but the painful feelings such as anxiety, panic, anger or despair are continually triggered in the present. Your ability to live in the present and learn from new experiences can therefore become inhibited.
EMDR helps create the connections between your brain’s memory networks, enabling your brain to process the traumatic memory in a very natural way. Most of the time your body routinely manages new information and experiences without you being aware of it. However, when something out of the ordinary occurs and you are traumatised by an overwhelming event (e.g. a car accident) or by being repeatedly subjected to distress (e.g. childhood neglect), your natural coping mechanism can become overloaded. This overloading can result in disturbing experiences remaining frozen in your brain or being “unprocessed”.
Such unprocessed memories and feelings are stored in the limbic system of your brain in a “raw” and emotional form, rather than in a verbal “story” mode. This limbic system maintains traumatic memories in an isolated memory network that is associated with emotions and physical sensations, and which are disconnected from the brain’s cortex where we use language to store memories. The limbic system’s traumatic memories can be continually triggered when you experience events similar to the difficult experiences you have been through. Often the memory itself is long forgotten, but the painful feelings such as anxiety, panic, anger or despair are continually triggered in the present. Your ability to live in the present and learn from new experiences can therefore become inhibited. EMDR helps create the connections between your brain’s memory networks, enabling your brain to process the traumatic memory in a very natural way. Below is an excellent video that will explain some of these concepts;
What is an EMDR session like?
After a thorough assessment, you will be asked specific questions about a particular disturbing memory. Eye movements, similar to those during REM sleep, will be recreated simply by asking you to watch the therapist’s finger moving backwards and forwards across your visual field. Sometimes, a bar of moving lights or headphones is used instead. The eye movements will last for a short while and then stop. You will then be asked to report back on the experiences you have had during each of these sets of eye movements. Experiences during a session may include changes in thoughts, images and feelings.
With repeated sets of eye movements, the memory tends to change in such a way that it loses its painful intensity and simply becomes a neutral memory of an event in the past. Other associated memories may also heal at the same time. This linking of related memories can lead to a dramatic and rapid improvement in many aspects of your life.
What can EMDR be used for?
In addition to its use for the treatment of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, EMDR has been successfully used to treat:
Anxiety and panic attacks
Depression
Stress
Phobias
Sleep problems
Complicated grief
Addictions
Pain relief, phantom limb pain
Self-esteem and performance anxiety
Can anyone benefit from EMDR?
EMDR can accelerate therapy by resolving the impact of your past traumas and allowing you to live more fully in the present. It is not, however, appropriate for everyone. The process is rapid, and any disturbing experiences, if they occur at all, last for a comparatively short period of time. Nevertheless, you need to be aware of, and willing to experience, the strong feelings and disturbing thoughts, which sometimes occur during sessions.
How long does treatment take?
EMDR can be brief focused treatment or part of a longer psychotherapy programme. EMDR sessions can be for 60 to 90 minutes.
During EMDR treatment, you will remain in control, fully alert and wide-awake. This is not a form of hypnosis and you can stop the process at any time.
What evidence is there that EMDR is a successful treatment?
EMDR is an innovative clinical treatment which has successfully helped over a million individuals. The validity and reliability of EMDR has been established by rigorous research. There are now nineteen controlled studies into EMDR making it the most thoroughly researched method used in the treatment of trauma, and is recommended by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) as an effective treatment for PTSD.
