Person-Centred Counselling & Psychotherapy in Dundee City Centre & Online
Safety comes from a trusting relationship between counsellor and client.
Welcome to Safe Companion Counselling. My name is John Walker, and I am a BACP Accredited person-centred counsellor offering counselling and psychotherapy in Dundee City Centre and online across the UK. 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
John Walker Counsellor in Dundee City Centre & Online
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
Counselling in Dundee City Centre & Online
I work from private rooms 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.
Opening hours
Monday to Thursday: 11am - 9pm
Fridays: 11am - 5pm
Getting Here
Street parking is available directly outside the building on Constitution Road. Lower-cost communal parking is also available at the Overgate Shopping Centre, around an 8-minute walk away.
If you're travelling by public transport, local buses stop on Whitehall Street, approximately a 10-minute walk from the building. Dundee Railway Station is around a 12-minute walk, making the location easily accessible for clients travelling from surrounding areas, including Perth.
Opening hours
Monday to Friday: 11am - 9pm
Getting Here
Communal parking is available approximately a 5-minute walk from the building. Local bus services stop directly opposite the therapy rooms, and Dundee Railway Station is around a 7-minute walk away, making it convenient for clients travelling both locally and from surrounding areas.
Online Counselling in Dundee
I offer secure online counselling sessions from 11:00am to 9:00pm, Monday to Sunday, providing flexible support from the comfort and privacy of your own home. Whether you're unable to travel or simply prefer remote sessions, online counselling offers the same confidential and professional support as in-person appointments.
Counselling 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.
FAQs
What kinds of issues does Person-Centred Therapy help with?
These issues are wide and varied. For example, feelings of low self-esteem, managing anger in a way that does not destroy important personal relationships. In my work with Childhood Trauma, I look at how it is affecting Adults in the here-and-now. There can be common links to anxiety and panic attacks; sleep disturbance; post-traumatic stress; abuse; alcohol addiction and grief and loss. For those struggling with their sexual orientation, person-centred therapy can help with feelings of abandonment; rejection; family isolation; and depression.
How long is each session?
Each session lasts 60 minutes and is usually on a weekly basis.
Do you offer a free consultation?
Yes. I offer a 15-30 minute free consultation via the Zoom platform. The purpose of the session is to find out what you are looking for from therapy and provide you with the opportunity to ask me any questions you may have.
Do I have to make a decision straight away?
No. I understand you need time to think about what we have discussed. It is important that you have a sense you could work with me, as this is essential to the development of a good working relationship based on trust. It also increases the possibility of you having a positive and satisfying outcome to therapy.
What should I talk about in the first session?
The purpose of the session is to discuss anything you wish to bring. It is entirely your decision. You may find yourself a little anxious and uncertain of where to begin. This is entirely normal. However, I am there to guide and support you, should you go through this uncomfortable phase.
What if I still struggle to know what to say?
I normally ask that you start with a topic that seems relatively safe for you to speak about. This minimises any risk of you becoming overwhelmed on the first session. It is usual for the conversation to flow quite easily once “the ice” stage has been broken!!
Do I have to talk about traumatic issues in detail?
Many clients have this concern that they will be expected to go into details of their traumatic experiences immediately. This is not the case. I will never ask you to go to an unsafe place in your memory that risks re-traumatising you. It is your decision alone as to how much, if any, detail you wish to disclose in our sessions, once you feel safe enough to do so.
What if I cannot make the session as arranged?
As long as you cancel the session 24 hours in advance, you will not be liable for payment of the fee. You can contact me by text on 07397005428 or alternatively by email address johopop@yahoo.com
Get in touch with John
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.