Psychotherapy in Dundee City Centre & Online
Safety comes from a trusting relationship between counsellor and client.
Welcome, and thank you for visiting Safe Companion Counselling. My name is John and I work mainly with Adults who have been traumatised as children, either as a result of physical, mental or sexual abuse or lack of attachment to important adult carers. This also extends to those within the LGBTQIA community who experience deep wounding having been abandoned or rejected by carers as a result of their sexual orientation. I provide face-to-face contact on both a short and long-term basis to adults in Dundee City Centre and also in surrounding areas of Angus, Perth & Kinross and Fife. For those living in different parts of the UK I also offer an on-line service through the Zoom platform or other suitable mediums
About me
Hello there, I entered into the counselling profession late in life, having had a career in social work, spanning 35 years. I qualified as a counsellor in 2016 and obtained my BACP accreditation in 2020.I decided to specialise in working with child/adult trauma including those whose sexual orientation had led to their alienation by members of their own family or the wider community. Why, you might ask? Because I have been to my own dark places in the past and understand how it feels. I have also had my own personal therapy. The media is awash with stories of overwhelming pain and suffering carried for decades by adults who should have received nurturing and love in their childhoods. That is why I decided to learn as much as I could by way of Continuous Professional Development (CPD) on issues of attachment styles, grief and loss and addiction, all of which have a connection to unprocessed trauma.
My voluntary work, before training, includes working with Cruse Bereavement Care (Scotland) for 19 years and Tayside Council on Alcohol for 12 years. Both of these organisations gave me a firm grounding on the work I undertake currently. Of course, taking care of myself is terribly important when dealing with such challenging situations on a regular basis. To regulate myself, I like to go for walks and listen to music. I also enjoy reading books, usually autobiographies as I find it inspirational reading how people overcome their own adverse life experiences. And lastly, I have 4 school age grandchildren who bring much joy into my life and challenge my energy levels regularly!
Core Belief
I have a deep conviction that counselling can change people's lives. I've seen it happen many times in my work with clients. I could not do this work, if I did not believe this to be true. It starts with the relationship between the client and counsellor. Clients need to feel safe before they can open up and share their wounds of the past. That is why I trained as a person -centred counsellor, because this approach fundamentally places the client at the centre of what takes place during the session. It is the client who decides how to use the session, as they are the expert on their own experience, not me.
Therapeutic Process
It is important to me that the client has a sense of empowerment, that they are in control of what develops and are not intimidated by the process. There is no such thing as a "quick fix." It takes a lot of courage to take the step of unburdening yourself to a complete stranger. However, if the chemistry between the client and counsellor is a good one, then something transformational can happen. A healing can take place, rather like a "light-bulb moment" because the client feels understood, accepted for who they are, and truly heard at a deeper level. It's not fixing that the client needs, it's healing. My job, is to help you, the client, to find your own path to healing as you are the only person who can do it. And that takes self-belief you can do it. That is my message of hope given to you from a compassionate heart. It's through this compassionate approach, that you can learn to be compassionate toward yourself and realise you are a person of value who deserves respect for all that you are.
Growth Journey
Many clients blame themselves for events of the past for which they are not responsible, and this can be a real stumbling block that can adversely impact their personal growth. It takes courage to move beyond what has happened in the past to a healthier, happier life in the present, but it is infinitely possible. I see myself as their companion travelling along their path of self-discovery toward ultimate freedom. Nothing can be more rewarding for them and dare I say it, for myself in observing their transformation.
What issues can counselling help with?
People come to me for help on a wide range of issues. Here are a few of the more common difficulties that can be supported through counselling:
Stress
Trauma
Rejection
Depression
Relationship problems
Problems with confidence or self-esteem
Anger
Anxiety
Problems with addiction
Sexuality
Post-traumatic stress
Grief, loss or bereavement
Abuse
Abandonment
“If your compassion does not include yourself, it is incomplete.”
Richard Schwartz
“The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.”
Nelson Mandela
“It is the client who knows what hurts, what directions to go, what problems are crucial, what experiences have been deeply buried.”
Carl Rogers
My location
I work from private offices located in a quiet part of Dundee City Centre, and see clients locally as well as from the surrounding areas of Angus, Perth & Kinross and Fife.
In addition to providing face-to-face therapy, I also offer online services via the Zoom platform.
Sessions & Fees
Counselling sessions for individuals last 60 minutes and usually take place on a weekly basis. The fee is £60 per session and should be paid no later than 24 hours in advance of the session beginning.
I accept payment by bank transfer, details of which will be provided at the time of booking. I require 24 hours notice of any cancellation of the appointment, otherwise the full fee will still need to be paid.
Before commencing therapy, I normally offer a 15 minute to 30 minute free consultation service to answer any questions you may have about counselling. This gives us the opportunity to discuss the reasons you are thinking of coming to counselling; to establish if it could be helpful for you and if I am the right therapist to help.
Get in touch
Feel free to contact me by email or text if you have any questions about how counselling works, or to arrange an initial appointment. This enables us to discuss the reasons you are thinking of coming to counselling, whether it could be helpful for you and whether I am the right therapist to help.
You can also contact me on 07397005428 if you prefer to speak to me directly or leave a voicemail.
All enquiries are usually answered within 24 hours and are strictly confidential.