I have worked as a mental health counsellor for over 15 years both in a community health agency and private practice.
I work predominantly with adults who have lived through difficult, adverse or traumatic experiences growing up and who struggle with the issues that can arise from these experiences such as bodily and emotional distress, complex trauma, anxiety, emotional volatility, rejection sensitivity, depression, dissociative experiences including DID, self-harm, poor self-belief, and relationship or interpersonal difficulties.
I also work with adults who have experienced domestic abuse and struggling with healing from narcissistic manipulation in relationships.
In the last seven years I have been working increasingly and extensively at the intersection of trauma and gender and sexual relationship diversity: many of the clients I see are gender non-conforming and often experiencing ongoing trauma through being different and marginalised.
A significant number of my clients are also autistic and mostly identify as non-binary, gender-questioning or trans.
I myself am gender non-conforming.
I am a practitioner member with COSCA, the professional body for counselling and psychotherapy in Scotland and a mental health advisor on the board of Health all Round, a community health project providing services focusing on the physical, social and emotional wellbeing of people in South West Edinburgh, and recognised as one of the leading charities for working with inequalities in Edinburgh.
Although a small proportion of my clients come through my website, the majority are referred from a variety of places who know me and my work.
I work in an integrative and relational way adapting my approach to what best suits each client.
I am a sensitive and caring person who is passionate about supporting individuals address life challenges even with very traumatic past experiences. I believe that every person has the capacity to change and grow and sometimes we need someone to accompany and support us on that journey. My aim is to help people live happier, healthier, and more fulfilling relationships with themselves and with others – whatever that relationship looks like for them.
I am GSRD-affirming, neuro-affirming and trauma-informed. I offer a safe space for LGBTQI+ and consensual non-monogamous clients, and am kink friendly and aware.
Experience and Areas of Expertise
I volunteered with a community health project for 14 years as a mental health counsellor giving me extensive experience working with adult survivors of childhood sexual, physical and emotional abuse, neglect, domestic abuse and narcissistic manipulation and abuse.
Although I saw a small number of clients over the years at HAR who were trans and whose gender dysphoria had been addressed by social, hormonal and/or surgical transition, it was since starting private practice full time in 2017 that I have worked with an increasing number of clients questioning their gender identity or having challenges with expressing their gender identity.
I specialise in working with interpersonal trauma and increasingly work at the intersection of trauma and gender and sexual relationship diversity.
Training
I have a core, four-year post-graduate diploma training in clinical Transactional Analysis Counselling and Psychotherapy and an MSc in Counselling with a focus on the therapeutic relationship, unconscious processes and trauma.
I also have considerable specialist training in working with developmental and interpersonal trauma – complex PTSD and dissociative conditions (and deliver training at all levels on trauma).
I have certificate level training in Group Analysis, Person Centered Counselling, Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFIT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) and somatic approaches to working with complex trauma.
I have completed foundation and more extensive training in Gender and Sexual Relationship Diversity (GSRD), and I have advanced training in working with transgender clients.
I am a Practitioner Member with COSCA, am in regular supervision and abide by the COSCA code of ethics.
I continue to complete 50 hours a year of continuing professional development to keep up with developments in research, understanding and the wider field.
Privacy Policy
The General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) came into force on 25th May 2018 and set out a number of obligations on individuals and organisations holding personal information. My obligations to you include clearly describing:
- Who I am
- The nature of the personal information I collect, store and use
- Why I need this personal information and how I use it (the lawful basis)
- Who I might share this information with
- How I store the information and when it is deleted
- Your rights in relation to the information I hold about you
I will provide you with a copy of my privacy policy on request and when we first meet.
Complaints
I comply with the COSCA Complaints Procedure and will provide you with a copy at our first session.
Colin is a Practitioner Member of COSCA and on COSCA’s Register which is accredited by the Professional Standards Authority