“Our feelings are our most genuine paths to knowledge.”

Audre Lorde

Welcome

My name is Ali (she/they) and I am a pluralistic counsellor based in Leith, Edinburgh. I offer therapy sessions both online and in-person.

Experience and Background

Before training as a counsellor I spent most of my career working in client-facing roles in the charity sector, so I have a breadth of experience supporting people from diverse walks of life.

I have particular experience of working with survivors of sexual violence, having worked in the gender-based violence sector for several years.

Some other experiences I have worked with are:

LGBTQIA+ issues
Loss, bereavement and grief
Relationship difficulties
Life transitions
Childhood trauma
Stress and anxiety

Whilst these categories can be a way of connecting with specific experiences, ultimately I work with human beings and take a holistic view, seeing us as more than a label.

About Me

When I’m not counselling, I can often be found spending time with dogs, birdwatching, cooking without a recipe book, or heading for the hills/sea!

I warmly invite you to get in touch If you want to find out more about what it would be like to work with me.

Qualifications:

MSc Counselling – Abertay University, Dundee
COSCA Certificate in Counselling Skills – Edinburgh College
BSc (Hons) Occupational Therapy – Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh

I am a registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and I work within their Ethical Framework.

What I Offer

I offer one-to-one counselling for adults (18+). I am happy to work in an open-ended way or equally I can provide short-term sessions if this is your preference.

In my experience, counselling offers the possibility of creating a deeper and more fulfilling relationship with yourself. This could mean starting to make sense of your experiences and emotions, building your self-compassion, or reconnecting with less familiar parts of yourself.

My Approach

My approach is relational: I believe that feeling seen, understood and accepted by another person can be healing in many ways. So, whatever your counselling journey looks like I will travel alongside you, and I hope you will experience me as a warm, grounded presence.

My approach is also pluralistic, which means that – depending on what feels most helpful to you - I may draw on theories and techniques from a range of approaches.

An Inclusive Space

Social justice and inclusion are very important to me, and my work is rooted in a neurodiverse and LGBTQIA+ affirming perspective.

I am deeply committed to working in a non-pathologising way. You are not broken, the struggles bringing you to therapy are shaped by wider social and cultural contexts, and I welcome conversations about how you encounter your own identities and experience.

Practical Considerations for Online Counselling

Online counselling can be a great option for many people as it is convenient, accessible and flexible. If this is how you choose to have your sessions with me, there are a few things to consider before we start to make sure you get the most from your counselling.

Most importantly, you will need a quiet, comfortable space with a reliable internet connection and minimal risk of being overheard or interrupted. You might like to have a drink and some tissues nearby, and please feel welcome to bring anything else that will help you to feel present (for example a comfort object, fidget toy or a notepad and pen).

Moving between a counselling session and everyday life requires a mental and emotional adjustment, so where possible it is helpful to allow space in your day for transitional time before and after an appointment.

Fees & Availability

In-person sessions last for 50 minutes and take place weekly on Saturday mornings at Connections Counselling in Leith, Edinburgh. Sessions cost £50, but a concessionary rate of £40 per session is available for those on lower incomes.

Online sessions usually last for 1 hour, cost £50 per session, and generally take place online on a weekly or fortnightly basis but there may be some flexibility to this depending on your individual circumstances. Payment is by bank transfer.

I also provide a limited number of concessionary online spaces for those on low incomes, so you pay what you can afford for therapy. Contact me to enquire about availability.

Note that if you cancel an appointment I require 24 hours' notice, otherwise you will still need to pay for any sessions missed.

I currently have the following availability:

Daytimes – Monday and Friday (online)

Evenings – Tuesday and Thursday (online)

Weekends - Saturday morning (in person)

Free Introductory Call

I know first-hand how daunting it can feel to take the step of reaching out for help and how important it is to find a counsellor with whom you connect, and I aim to make this process feel as safe as possible.

I therefore offer a free, no-obligation 30-minute introductory video or phone call. This will give us the opportunity to experience how it would feel to work together and for you to ask any questions you might have. You might also like to use this time to talk about what you are looking for from our sessions, and we can discuss a contract for working together.

Get in touch

Feel free to contact me if you have any questions about how I work, or to arrange a free 30 minute introductory call. This enables us to discuss the reasons you are thinking of coming to therapy, whether it could be helpful for you and whether I am the right person to help.

I aim to respond to enquiries within 24 hours, and all contact is strictly confidential.

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