About me

I am a Counsellor with my own private practice in the Southside of Glasgow. I work with a wide range of clients and offer you a safe and confidential space where you can explore your thoughts, feelings and concerns. These explorations take courage and it can be scary for people to ask for help at the time when they need it the most. Thoughts and feelings directly impact on your mood and ability to cope with life, so talking through these feelings can help you to deal with your distress and encourage positive change.

My counselling practice offers you a place where you can feel fully accepted, respected and supported in a safe, non-judgemental way. I offer this supporting environment in my calm and peaceful counselling room within my home (see photographs below), where there is ample car parking directly outside. When you first contact me I will do my best to put you at your ease and we’ll arrange a first session. I offer the first 30 minute session free of charge to give you a sense of whether you think we can work together. I think this is important as my model of counselling is based on developing a trusting relationship with my clients.

If you feel we can work together then subsequent sessions will be 1 hour duration. In the first full session we’ll go through a short, 1 page contracting form, which we’ll both agree and sign. The contract covers issues such as your confidentiality. The time is yours to explore any issues that you feel are causing you distress. We will regularly review progress so you have a sense of whether you’re getting what you need from the sessions. This will also help us to decide when is the best time to end counselling.

Qualifications

Post-graduate Diploma in Person-centred Counselling (University of Strathclyde).
Certificate in Person-centred Counselling (University of Strathclyde).
BSc (Hons, 1st Class) University of Dundee.

Experience

I have a particular speciality of counselling people who are, or have been, affected by addictions. I work as a part-time therapist in one of the most successful addiction rehabilitation hospitals in Europe. Addiction is not ‘self-inflicted’ or a ‘moral weakness’ it is a debilitating illness. Counselling is very effective in managing both substance (alcohol, drugs etc) and behavioural (gambling or shopping, for example) addictions and can be life-changing.

I also have experience of working with people who are feeling actively suicidal, have previously attempted suicide or who are having suicidal thoughts. My experience is that clients who are feeling suicidal are not necessarily depressed, as is the general assumption, but can be feeling trapped or isolated in their lives.

I’m a part-time Associate Counsellor at a college in Glasgow and have experience of working with student clients in further education. Examples of issues affecting students can include, amongst many others, anxiety, depression, relationship issues or financial difficulties.

Fees

I offer the first 30 minute session free of charge. Thereafter I charge £35 per 1 hour session.

Types of therapy I offer

Humanistic, Person Centred, Addiction Group Facilitation.

Clients I work with

Adults, Older Adults, Students, Organisations.

How I deliver therapy

Short-term face-to-face work, Long-term face-to-face work, Telephone counselling, Time-limited, Group facilitation.

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Donald Ashburn Counselling

Donald Ashburn Counselling

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