Ruth Forbes

I currently  only have availability for  online appointments on a Monday.

Online sessions cost £50.00.

My professional career started in social work and I have worked in a variety of settings, over a number of years, including adult psychiatry. I undertook additional training in Psychodynamic Counselling at the Scottish Institute of Human Relations between 1997 and 1999 and since then have worked in a range of counselling roles alongside pursuing a career in Social Work education. 

I retired from my university position in 2018 and now maintain a small counselling practice in Edinburgh. I have many years experience of working with people who are in distress or in crisis as well as with those who are wishing to undertake some personal development to increase their self understanding and to gain insight into their motivations, defences and  blind spots.

I ensure that I keep my skills and knowledge up to date and I enjoy a variety of training opportunities which are available to those of us working in the counselling profession. Continuing to take attention to my professional development is important for both myself and for my clients as is regular contact and discussion with my supervisor. 

The psychodynamic method of counselling recognises that our childhoods and personal histories impact upon and are replayed in  our adult lives. As a psychodynamic counsellor, I believe that it is natural to wish to avoid  hurt and anxiety and that the defences we use to do so might be largely unconscious. Furthermore, each adult  is likely to have established repeating patterns of behaviour across the course of their life even when such patterns are self defeating. 

My way of counselling is therefore to work alongside each individual, to explore together the details of their childhood and their past. Telling the story of your  life can help define the repeating patterns which are causing difficulties in the here and now. Our aim would be to uncover the original source of the presenting problems,  to make the unconscious conscious, and by so doing, enable  the individual to move constructively forward and  to make the significant life changes  which may reduce distress and enhance contentment. Overall, to strive towards uncovering the individual's full and true potential. 

The safe space created within the therapeutic relationship, along with the experience of being attentively listened to, understood and supported; without judgment nor criticism, are the core elements which constitute the unique experience of counselling.   

The first session involves some 'scene setting'; outlining practical arrangements, discussing some of the parameters of the counselling contract and clarifying issues such as payment, confidentiality and potential timescales. 

I would expect to hear a little about what has led the individual to seek counselling and why they are doing so now.

In the first session, I always say something about who I am and I how I work. I wouldn't expect to dive directly into the work during  the first session because I believe it is important that this first meeting is viewed as an initial exploration of how we might work together.  It is also important that someone attending the first session doesn't feel trapped into working  with me if it doesn't feel right to do so. Equally, if I felt I wasn't the right counsellor for them, then I would discuss alternative options.

By the end of the first session, it is normally possible to agree whether or not we are both happy to continue, to clarify what our focus and direction might be and to set a time to review and take stock of our work.

There is always time for you to ask questions about any aspect of the counselling process. Please feel free to ask or to say anything that is on your mind; anything that is worrying you about making this important step.