“I am a person-centred counsellor, supervisor, trainer and occasional mediator based in Edinburgh, Scotland. I moved to Scotland in 1997 to train at the Counselling Unit, University of Strathclyde (then based at Jordanhill).

Prior to training as a counsellor, I had been a painter/sculptor, a waitress, a fundraiser and PA in a small charity, and several other things but none of them were my vocation. I was lucky to discover counselling as my passion. Since qualifying in 1998 I have worked in the voluntary sector (in many different agencies – including women’s services, and drug and alcohol services); in primary care, and in student counselling as well as building and maintaining a private practice.

Somewhere along the way I have also been a trainer on the professional counselling Diploma at University of Edinburgh and become a supervisor (trained at Temenos 2007 -09). I was a member of the Co-ordinating Group of PCT Scotland in the early 2000’s and rejoined the group at the beginning of this year. My responsibilities involve working with others on creating a CPD programme and liaising on behalf of PCT Scotland with PCE Europe.

In the past few years, I have developed a particular interest in power and how we use it and misuse it; how this relates to the training of new counsellors; and to how we are with ourselves and others especially, but not exclusively, clients. I am involved in a group of independent counsellors exploring how to develop a different approach to PCA training in Scotland – one which attempts to hold these complex issues of power and difference at its heart.

I am above all a practitioner, and my passionate interest in all of this is to be with and connect with people – practitioners, colleagues, clients, supervisees. I am excited about the opportunities created by the PCE Europe Symposium for Scottish and UK practitioners to connect with each other and with those from other parts of the world.”