CV and what it all means

I think its natural for us to want to have trust in each other. This is even more important when we are revealing vulnerability , as we are in counselling. Unfortunately, counsellors are not able to produce a list of testimonials from satisfied clients ( and we should be wary of those who do).

Likewise, generally you can’t just ask around for an opinion- although I m always glad to hear ‘I was recommended by a friend who came to see you’, as an opening remark.

So for these reasons I ve attached an excerpt from my CV below

I hope that in here you ll find evidence of a wide variety of counselling experience and a desire to keep my practice up to date .You may also find things of particular relevance to your own circumstances – if so please ask me for more details, this is very much a quick summary.

Academic and/or Professional Qualifications (with dates and awarding body)

2023 ( pending) . Climate Aware Practitioner, Psychology for a Safe Climate.

2010-11 . PG Certificate in Individual Supervision, University of Strathclyde.

2000-02 . Post Graduate (PG) Diploma in Counselling, University of Strathclyde.

1997-2000. PG Certificate in Counselling Approaches, University of Edinburgh.

Training Courses –

As part of my accreditation as a counsellor I am required to undertake annual continued professional development activities. Amongst the most relevant and recent are training in Listening to Our Autonomic Nervous system (2023), Working with an Interpreter (2023), Working with Shame(2020), Intorduction to Cisnormative Awareness (2020),Interpersonal Counselling ( 2017),Pluralism in Counselling (2014 and 2007), Focussing therapy (2012 and 2007), EMDR Training (Level 1) (2008), working with Deaf Clients ( 2006) and working with Transgendered Clients (2012), online Diploma in Counselling Children and Adolescents (2014) , and Mindfulness -Level 1 Practitioner training (2015-16)

In addition I have delivered presentations on Therapeutic Support ( Climate Psychology Allaince, 2022), Time-limited Counselling (for Fed of Healthcare Counsellors, 2009), Membership Survey ( PCT Scotland, 2004), Working with Difference (Edinvar, 2003, and ECLIPSE, 2008) and Pluralism In Counselling ( NEECS, 2008)

Current Post

Counsellor, East Lothian Primary Care Team, NHS Lothian, 2004-present.

I provide a time-limited counselling service for clients referred from general medical practices in East Lothian. I organise my own waiting list and priorities and balance client needs, which requires flexibility in how and when I work with clients (e.g. time of day, duration, methods, communication style). I see up to twenty clients per week aged between 16 and 85 , and presenting with a wide range of issues- the most common being depression, anxiety , relationship issues, work-related stress and bereavement.

I have , until the pandemic, provided mentoring for a trainee counsellors at one of the sites, and in the past supervision to trainees on other placements. I have also organised counsellor intake for other practices in ECLIPSE (as the service was previously known).

I have taken other initiatives such as a practice research project, an article on my work with the service and the use and development of client feedback measures

Other Employment

2019- present. Climate Cafe Facilitator, Climate Psychology Alliance. I trained and have facilitated over twenty groups to help participants process difficult feelings about the climate crisis. These have been both online ( and international) and face to face ( with local voluntary organisations and university bodies). I ve also been involved in the training of other facilitators

2016- present . Tutor, Counselling Diploma programme, University of Edinburgh. I was involved in running Practice and Process Group which moves from a training in practice readiness to a group supervision session for students in counselling placement over the two years of the programme until 2020. In addition I assessed portfolios of professional development work, take part in a tutor group and have co-facilitated a large group on the programme , facilitated an interpersonal learning group (basically an unstructured small group for students) and now work as a professional development mentor.

2010- present . Supervisor, private practice. Supervising other counsellors – normally about 4-6 hrs per month with two to three colleagues

2009-16. Assistant Editor, Healthcare Counselling and Psychotherapy Journal. I located and selected suitable titles and reviewers for quarterly journal and contributed reviews and occasional articles.

2009-11. Tutor, Counselling in Healthcare module, MSC programme, University of Edinburgh. Organised and delivered course to mature and overseas students. (Course discontinued).

2005-09. Sessional Counsellor, North East Edinburgh Counselling Service. Open-ended counselling service. (left due to expansion of current role).

2002-04. Sessional Counsellor/ Admin Assistant, Wester Hailes Health Agency. (left to join ECLIPSE)

My previous work before that was in mental health in community and nursing services in the Lothians in various statutory and voluntary organisations.