Counsellor & Psychotherapist

I am professionally trained as a Counsellor & Psychotherapist which are talking therapies offered by practitioners where your feelings can be explored, and life experiences, relationships and behaviour patterns understood. 

Understanding how we feel about ourselves has such a profound impact upon how we feel about life, and this can be difficult to achieve on our own. There are times in our lives when we face challenges which prevent us from living the life we want to live and this can leave us feeling stuck, lost, or overwhelmed by our emotions. 

I understand that reaching out for professional support and speaking to someone can feel daunting. Counselling/psychotherapy offers an opportunity for reflection and exploration, which can provide the key that unlocks a way forward and a pathway for growth.

GET IN TOUCH: info@julieriddell.co.uk or +44 07711842065

“It’s not about getting the feeling out of the mind, or hiding it, but about experiencing it with acceptance.”

Carl Rogers

About Counselling & Psychotherapy

Perhaps you feel tired of pretending everything is ok, have tried talking to friends or family and have found that hasn’t helped and just want to feel and live better.

At times like these, seeing a counsellor/psychotherapist in a safe, non-judgemental, confidential space can help you unburden and understand yourself, so that you might find a way to bring about changes in your life.

There is no one situation that brings people into therapy and any issue or subject is open for reflection. Clients come to see me with a wide range of issues including.

  • Depression and Mood Disorders
  • Anxiety and Stress 
  • Low Self Esteem
  • Loneliness and Social Isolation
  • Relationship Difficulties
  • Loss
  • Life Transitions

About me, my background & training

I feel immensely privileged to have accompanied people with a wide variety of issues, from different cultures and backgrounds as they discover more about themselves, others, and their place in the world.

After gaining a B.Sc. in Molecular & Life Sciences I trained as a nurse and then midwife and worked for several years in the UK as well as overseas. I then co-directed a successful tourism business and therefore have had a lifetime of experience working with and supporting individuals. The step into training in counselling & psychotherapy, combined with my own therapeutic journey, has allowed me to develop an understanding of the complexities of emotional and relationship struggles, experienced not only in others but also of my own.  

I have a BACP accredited professional qualification in counselling and psychotherapy from a leading UK training organisation. My training was designed to thoroughly prepare me with the professional competence and personal confidence to provide clinical and therapeutic support in a broad range of settings. The evidenced based core model which informed my training is Person-Centred.  The philosophy is to trust in the individual’s innate ability to discover their own unique path in life so that we can develop and grow towards our full potential. My further training and work also integrate elements of other psychotherapeutic approaches, which continually develop my practice.

What to expect

Research has shown that the therapeutic relationship (between therapist and client) is a very special relationship and is regarded as one of the most important aspects of therapy. It is therefore important that you find the right therapist to work with. For this reason, I offer a free exploratory session initially to give you the chance to see if I am the right therapist for you and to also help me understand your reasons for coming to counselling.

A counselling session may involve reflecting upon your feelings, relationships, or ways of thinking and experiencing life, in fact any issues that just gets in the way of you being your best self.  

You will be the one who sets the pace; I am there to a work in partnership with you, rather than give advice and be the ‘expert’. Within a confidential space, I will support you by offering a warm, non-judgmental relationship where a greater understanding, appreciation and trust can develop. 

The sessions are predominantly on a weekly basis and can take place in-person or online and be for a long or short-term basis.

GET IN TOUCH: info@julieriddell.co.uk or +44 07711842065

Fees

First Session: This free of charge exploratory consultation is a chance to see:

  • How you feel being with me as your therapist,
  • To get a sense of how i work,
  • To see if we might work well together,
  • To assess if I am the right person to help you.

Weekly Sessions: Each session thereafter is £50.00, lasts for 50 minutes and are payable by cash or online bank transfer. 

Sliding Scale for payments: So that costs do not act as a barrier and to help to ensure that my counselling/psychotherapy practice is accessible to everyone, I operate a sliding scale for payments. Costs can be discussed and solutions found in the exploratory session.

GET IN TOUCH: info@julieriddell.co.uk or +44 07711842065

FAQ’s


Face-to-Face Sessions: these will take place in my home near Aberfeldy, Perthshire or in Crieff Medical Practice.

Online Session: When working on-line, I use Zoom and send a Zoom link the day before we are due to meet. If you are unfamiliar working this way, I am happy to talk you through what to expect.

What Does BACP Mean: I am a Registered Member of BACP (the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy) and included in their Accredited Register which is maintained by BACP and regulated by the Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care. This means that I am supported to provide the best and safest services, including requirements for ongoing clinical supervision, continuing professional development, and ethical practice.  I work according to their Ethical Framework for the Counselling Professions, which was established by the UK Government to protect the public and help ensure their health and well-being.

Insurance: I have Professional indemnity insurance with Psychologists Protection Society

Qualifications

  • Professional Diploma in Counselling & Psychotherapy
  • Trauma Informed Training 2024 (on-going)
  • Relationship Counselling Certificate 2024
  • Open University: Training in competency for phone and video-based counselling 2022
  • Certificate & Counselling Skills 2021
  • Registered General Nurse
  • Registered General Midwife
  • B.Sc. In Molecular & Life Sciences (Dundee 1985)

“It’s sometimes the most important shift and change a person can do for themselves in their whole life”

British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy