Services

I have worked as MBACP accredited psychological therapist for over 20 years and I have had a variety of experience in different settings. For example as a freelance consultant, I have provided training and presentations for clients such as the NHS and other mental health services. I have also worked within several organisations.

On this page I have listed the service I can provide - each section gives a brief introduction on them.

If you are keen to know more or have any queries, please do get in touch.

Counselling

Counselling is a professional relationship between a trained counsellor and a client. This relationship is usually in a one-to-one setting in a safe space but it may sometimes involve more than two people, such as couples counselling, and support groups.

The aim is to help clients find a resolution of their emotional or interpersonal issues such as: depression, stress, anxiety, anger, identity issues, relationship difficulties, bereavement, and to help them understand their own view on their life space and to learn how to reach their goals through their own choices.

The aim of counselling is to gain insight, self awareness, self acceptance, enlightenment, problem solving, psychological education, cognitive change, behaviour change, empowerment and resolution.

Supervision

The BACP stated that supervision is:

‘a specialised form of professional mentoring provided for practitioners responsible for undertaking challenging work with people’

This is sometimes called the ‘supervisory alliance’.
This is when one counsellor and another more experienced counsellor, who oversees or is a ‘supervisor’ of their work from afar, offers guidance and support.

This encourages regular ongoing reflection to ensure that counsellors continue working in an ethical, safe and professional way. Supervision can be provided to other professionals who work in different fields, such as interpreters.

Coaching

This is a tool to enable clients to: improve, develop and learn new skills; to find personal success, achieve their aims and manage life changes as well as personal challenges, whether if it in their personal life, career or/and business.

It is a process that helps people to develop and be their best self, through means such as personal coaching, life coaching, career coaching, performance coaching, providing opportunities to develop new skills, boost morale and confidence.

Facilitating

A facilitator helps a group of people to work together better, understand their common objectives and plan how to achieve these objectives, during meetings or discussions.

At the same time the facilitator remains neutral which means they don’t take on a participant position in the discussion.

Advocacy

Advocacy is speaking up for or acting on behalf of yourself, or another person.

It is used to make sure the person’s voice is heard, that they get the service they want and that they knows their rights so they can work towards getting what they are entitled to.

There are many types of advocacy - self advocacy, group advocacy, support advocacy, citizen advocacy, peer advocacy, and collective advocacy.

Advocacy is about finding ways and opportunities to say what you need, give your views, change things, take control of your life, influence decisions that affect you, be independent, get services you need, know your rights, use your rights, and change the balance of power.

Mentoring

Mentors can be directive, share skills, knowledge and expertise by being a positive role model by active listening, being solution focused and clarity assumptions.

Mentoring is not in a training format like counselling and therapy.

Mentoring provides guidance and constructive feedback. There is a five step process: Building rapport, Setting objectives, Formalising, Mentoring and Endings.

MHFA approved tutor

Mental Health First Aid is a 12 hour course presented in a range of formats from two full days to six two hour sessions. Materials include responding to mental health crisis’ and information about the most common mental health problems, the course includes different activities such as discussions and brainstorming to have a fun time together.

The aim is to:

to preserve life
to provide help to prevent the mental health problems or crisis developing into more serious state
to promote the recovery of good mental health
to provide comfort to a person experiencing distress
to promote understanding of mental health issues

This course gives you the knowledge to apply these aims in a real life situation.

BSL Guide

I have an interest in the arts and I provide BSL art tours in galleries and museums. I have worked with organisations to enable accessible tour events for deaf people at National Galleries Scotland, Royal Collection, Edinburgh Art Festival to name a few.

Presenter

It is important to provide clear information into British Sign Language to enable BSL users to understand. I have presented on various subjects, not only mindfulness but mental health and other health related topics. Also, I have filmed several videos and presentations for groups and organisations.