Carolyn McKerracher

Flexible avialability, including early mornings - please enquire for details.

Therapy room in at EH1 Therapies, West End. Wheelchair accessible room can be booked in Stockbridge.

I am a psychodynamic counsellor, with 18yrs' experience as an NHS scientist in radiotherapy and 17yrs' experience in community education, where I worked in settings such as prison, the Third Sector, youth projects, homelessness and  government. As a counsellor, I trained in the Third Sector, working with people experiencing anxiety, depression, career choices, relationship difficulties, caring responsibilities, physical illness and disability, trauma and loss.

Psychodynamic theory is based on the premise that our earliest relational experiences, create both conscious and unconscious patterns of being, which then impact on the development of our sense of self, identity and self-esteem.

When these experienced are unhelpful, or are coupled with social and cultural inequality, or discrimination, then we may become frustrated, anxious, depressed, or stuck in repeating patterns of unfulfilling jobs and relationships.

My aim in counselling, is to provide you with a safe, empathic, inclusive and non-judgemental space, in which I try to view your world from both the inside and the outside. In doing so, I believe we can learn from one another and thereby discover new ways of being, in life and relationship.

I hold a Post Graduate Diploma (PGDip) in Human Relations and Counselling from Human Development Scotland and Robert Gordon University, accredited by COSCA. My PhD, MPhil and BSc are in physics and I also hold a PGDip in Community Education.

I am a counsellor member of COSCA, a registered member of BACP (MBACP), and am insured through PPS.

I continue to work as a relief support worker in homelessness and Throughcare Aftercare (TCAC). With regards to support work, I am PVG and SSSC registered.

I adhere to the ethical standards and complaints procedures of the professional bodies I am a member of.

All of my working experiences, coupled with personal experience, have led me to this vocation, as a counsellor.

The depth of work we can do, is dependent on your preferences and the length of time we have, as I offer both short-term and open-ended counselling. 

In short-term counselling, we could look at a specific difficulty or challenge in your life, or determine whether longer-term work would be useful to you. In open-ended counselling, we would have the time to explore your experiences at a deeper level. Sometimes this is labelled psychotherapy, but the terminology can be confusing and it may be more useful to discuss what you are looking for, with a therapist, in person.

I offer a free initial consultation, in-person, in which you can tell me what you are hoping for in counselling, what your concerns might be and whether I could help.

The practice at EH1 Therapies is in a basement flat in the West End of Edinburgh, accessed by a flight of stone steps. If this is inaccessible to you, please get in touch to discuss as an alternative venue in Stockbridge.