My Approach

Psychotherapy can help people access inner resources which they have built up over time to cope with life's challenges. Sometime we forget we have these, or else we cannot access them, or they are not sufficient.

Much of what people bring involves - often the delayed impact of difficult transitions, of separation and grief. These may be in personal relationships or the workplace (or both). As we move through the decades, disappointment can come as fast and thick as joy. Although this may come with being a human being in the world, challenges can creep up on us over time or leap in front of us us out of nowhere. Either way, they can leave us feeling diminished, puzzled and stuck.

My main trainings are in Transactional Analysis and Gestalt Psychotherapy, together with further professional development in the cognitive, Jungian and psychodynamic traditions.

As a member of the Humanistic and Integrative College of the UKCP, I use a number of different approaches. These come together to support the unfolding needs of the person who has come to see me.

About Me

In 2012, after twelve years of private practice in Edinburgh, I joined the Edinburgh Maggie's Cancer Caring Centre. Working there as a psychotherapist taught me many things about the impact of chronic and acute health issues on relationships, and the effects of shock and trauma linger and return over time.

My background before training as a psychotherapist was in publishing. Between 1984 and 1990 I was Editor of the journal Edinburgh Review and in 1997 I edited The Picador Book of Contemporary Scottish Fiction. More recently I have written an Afterword for "Is it still ok to have cuddles?: Explaining breast cancer in words very young children can understand" by Elke Thompson.

I work with

• Couples
• Families
• Groups
• Individuals
• Private healthcare referrals

Special Interests

Like all UKCP registered psychotherapists and psychotherapeutic counsellors I can work with a wide range of issues, but here are some areas in which I have a special interest or additional experience.

Types of Therapies Offered

• Transactional Analysis Psychotherapist

What I can help with

• Abuse
• Addiction
• Age-related Issues
• Bereavement
• Bullying
• Cancer
• Chronic Illness
• Couple Issues
• Cultural Issues
• Depression
• Divorce
• Obsessions
• Parents
• Post-Traumatic Stress
• Relationships
• Separation
• Step Families
• Stress
• Supervision
• Terminal Illness
• Trauma
• Workplace Counselling