WHAT DO I OFFER?
TRAINING
I offer counselling (short term) and psychotherapy (long term) for individual adults (16+), and also couples, family and relationship therapy.
I'm an experienced counsellor and psychotherapist with over 3000 hours of client work, and I'm an Accredited member of the BACP and COSCA, which means I've demonstrated that my practice meets a higher standard of competent, ethical practice.
WHAT IS RALLENTANDO?
I chose the name Rallentando for my therapy practice because in musical notation it means slowing down. When we've experienced difficult events, our nervous systems can struggle and feel frazzled, meaning it's hard to find our breath and rhythm again.
I have developed a centre in New Abbey, 15 minutes from Dumfries, from which I offer therapy but also rent space to others whose work aligns with the idea of slowing down, regulating the nervous system, relaxing. This enables a holistic approach to recovery from tough times be offered from one place. As you come into the village, you come along winding roads, inviting a gentler pace, as I hope you will find in sessions with me. There are beautiful walks locally and a tea room, so opportunity to unwind and reflect after potentially exploring painful experiences or coming to new awareness in sessions.
Coming for counselling takes guts, and to be able to face the painful and difficult aspects of life with courage and self-compassion is something precious.Letting the tough stuff become part of your growth can be lifechanging.
Slowing down, easing up, can really help us be able to reconnect with ourselves, to find our creativity, rythm and spark again.
WHAT ARE THERAPY SESSIONS LIKE?
In therapy sessions, I offer a spacious listening to promote recovery and growth.
Individual sessoins last an hour, and couples/relationship sessions are 1.5 hours.
Although in a first session there are things I'm likely to ask you about, generally I'll ask you how you would like to use each session.
I trust that you have an understanding of what you need and what is troubling you. I bring to the table some good quality therapy training and experience, and you bring some quality expertise on your own life.
Together we can explore the roots of what troubles you and its impact on your current thinking and feeling.
Drawing on your strengths, interests and instinct for life, we work together as a team on your process of recovery and growth. If it's something that appeals to you, I can use the latest research in neuroscience, creativity or mindfulness to assist you in your exploration of yourself and to support you in your life going forward.
In the case of couples/relationship therapy, I offer a space for you to hear each other differently; and to reflect on how you have got to a point where things feel this tough. Together we can work at those hurts that can be too easily unaddressed or swept away but which nonetheless impact your relationship, your view of each other or of yourself.
WHAT DO I WORK WITH?
I am happy to work with anyone on any difficulty unless additional specialised input is needed, in which case I'll help you find someone who has that. Areas I often work with are trauma, shame, self confidence, depression, anxiety, loss and grief, post traumatic growth, relationship with others and with self.
For those interested in theory, my training is humanistic and integrative which means I draw on a number of different styles of therapy to meet your needs. These include Person-Centred, Gestalt, Transactional Analysis and Psychodynamic/Object Relations approaches, along with narrative, mindfulness-based and systemic approaches. .I work in a trauma-informed way.
Qualifications and Courses::
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numerous CPD courses after qualifiying, such as working with trauma, working with shame, somatic approaches to trauma, food and attachment, attachment theory, working with anxiety.
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Certificate in Couples and Relationship Counselling, with Persona Training, completed August 2025.
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CPPD London Counselling School Advanced Diploma in Humanistic Integrative Counselling 2019-2022 including working with children and young people, and short courses including working with trauma, eating disorders, addictions, bereavement, time limited counselling, CBT, neuroscience and attachment
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Mindfulness based stress reduction 8 week course, University of Bangor Centre for Mindfulness Studies 2021.
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Tavistock and Portman: PG Diploma in Systemic Family Therapy 2014-2017
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Introduction to Compassion Focused Therapy 2014
EXPERIENCE
Most of my work is longer term psychotherapy. However I also have experience of offering time limited counselling with a local housing provider as part of their staff wellbeing service, with a multi-national Employee Assistance Programme offering a number of sessions to staff of a variety of companies, and have taught counselling skills with a Scottish counselling training company. Separately, I teach with an organsiation training people to be with people at end of life.
In the past, I've held a variety of roles in pastoral care, mental health, management, equality and diversity within the NHS in acute general, palliative and mental health services. I have over 30 years of experience in listening roles, and offered counselling to employees of D and G Council through a local Occupational Health company when I first moved here.
I'm registered with COSCA and accredited by BACP, (the professional bodies for counsellors in Scotland and in the wider UK) and work to their codes of ethics. I am required, like all COSCA registrants, to include here a link to Cosca's complaints policy: https://cosca.org.uk/guidance-policies/complaints
I also have PVG registration (2303 0901 8191 2420) and am registered with the Information Commissioners' Office as a keeper of data.
"You helped bring my life back to me and I'm forever grateful"
"You created an open, listening and supportive environment"
"Counselling helped me explore the roots of thoughts and feelings and regain confidence and creativity"
CONTACT ME
Please feel free to call or email if you'd like to explore having sessions with me. I'd be glad to hear from you.
PHONE
07826 687188
I work on Zoom or face-to-face in my therapy centre in New Abbey, 6 miles from Dumfries