My Background
Picking a therapist is a really difficult thing. It’s like, how am I meant to know from a bio that we can work well together? I totally agree, that’s why I would always encourage getting in touch to organise a 15 minute informal chat.
But to give you a little information first about who I am…
I grew up in rural Aberdeenshire and now live in the beautiful city of Edinburgh. I love dogs, drink too much coffee and I’m a bit of a geek regarding therapy and the different therapeutic approaches.
What gives me the qualifications to do the job I do?
I have a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Stirling and a Master of Philosophy degree in Body Image and Gender Identity from the University of Stirling. I had a great time studying in Stirling and it led me to find that working 1-2-1 with people is the career path for me.
To start my therapy journey I have a SCOTACS Diploma in CBT Counselling and Groupwork from The Centre of Therapy and Counselling Studies in Glasgow, and I am a fully qualified cognitive behavioural therapist. However, I truly believe it is only once we gain the initial tools, when becoming therapist, do we really learn our own approaches and styles. Therefore since qualifying, I have undergone further training and believe in an experiential therapeutic approach utilising principles of Internal Family Systems (IFS) and Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy (AEDP).
I have undertaking a certificate in Psychosexual Therapy at the Contemporary Institute of Clinical Sexology and have recently become an EMDR therapist. My clinical education has included focused studies in gender and body image, CBT theory, IFS, AEDP, EMDR, group therapy, the impact of trauma on the LGBTQ+ community and trauma response. As an MBACP accredited therapist, I am required to participate in ongoing continued education and personal development which helps to develop my ability to practice in a way that is aligned with the latest research in the field.
What to expect from therapy
Therapy is an exciting and unique process for each individual. I look to collaborate with you to help facilitate change and growth. The most important part of therapy to me is the therapeutic relationship. Research is showing that the most healing part of therapy isn’t the approach but the therapeutic relationship. Therefore it shows how special the therapeutic relationship is. You are offered a safe place to explore your internal landscape and help you overcome adversity. As a therapist, I look to show acceptance, genuiness and empathy. I believe that each of us has the capacity to work through our suffering and that’s why I do the job I do.
Within a therapy session, I use a variety of different approaches. However, a key theme of therapy is noticing physical sensations within the body and using curiosity to explore emotions, thoughts, and behaviours. I believe a fundamental part of healing is allowing ourselves to fully experience our emotions, therapy allows a safe space to facilitate this.
