About Me

Hello and welcome to my website. My name is Aleisha (she/her) and I am a passionate and committed counsellor / psychotherapist based in Edinburgh. I am a registered member of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and a Counselling & Psychotherapy in Scotland (COSCA) qualified counsellor.

I believe that therapy can be transformative - this is something that I have experienced both as a client and as a therapist. I offer a non-judgemental and warm space for you to explore and reflect on your thoughts, feelings and experiences - perhaps leading to you having a better understanding of yourself and how you relate to the world around you. My work is non-directive, meaning that you decide what to talk about in sessions and set the pace at which we move together. When appropriate, I may gently encourage you to think in new ways about your experiences.

I am trained in both person-centred and psychodynamic approaches, striving to offer the person-centred therapeutic conditions of empathy, acceptance and unconditional positive regard whilst also exploring the connection between the past and the present. Each person is unique and understanding and honouring your experience is core to my practice. My goal is to form a collaborative and positive therapeutic relationship which, in itself, can be enormously healing.

Some of the issues that I have worked with in the past include depression, anxiety, self-esteem, loss, grief, relationship difficulties, childhood issues, disordered eating, identity, and sexuality.

My qualifications include a Postgraduate Diploma in Counselling from The University of Edinburgh as well as an undergraduate degree in Health & Social Welfare and Social Policy from The Open University. I am also a qualified Workplace Mediator, certified by The Institute of Leadership and Management.

I have had a long career in the public sector: 25 years in the NHS of which the last 17 years have been in management positions. Recent voluntary work has included being a Helpline Volunteer with the LGBT+ Helpline Scotland as well as two years as a Volunteer Counsellor, working with adult clients, at PF Counselling Service in Edinburgh.