Rate Jill Atkinson

After completing my degree in Psychology, I taught English in South Korea which sparked my interest in how the society and culture we live in shapes our values and meaning we foster. After returning to Scotland, I worked therapeutically in various settings within NHS and mental health organisations. Through this work, I deepened my values and passions of a more holistic way to wellbeing and have since achieved SCOTACS Diploma in Counselling and Group Work – a Cognitive Behavioural Approach, becoming a qualified counsellor. I also work part-time as a group work therapist, facilitating groups on self-compassion, low-self esteem and managing anxiety.

I have attended additional CPD training in Compassion-Focused Therapy, Transactional Analysis, Mood and Food, Somatic Therapy and Outdoor Therapy, allowing me to weave these practices into my counselling. I’m very interested in our interconnectedness; in our relationship and connection with our bodies, our communities and with the natural world. I believe there is a lot of power and wisdom that can come from tuning in to our senses, our bodies and our surroundings.

I feel very passionately about counselling and feel deeply privileged to be able to work alongside clients. For me, the power of counselling lies in that it allows us to develop a deeper awareness of ourselves - of our beliefs we hold often subconsciously, and of our emotions, allowing us to challenge ourselves to do something differently - learning to trust ourselves and connect to our inner-wisdom. We can learn to have more control in the choices we make and to live life more purposefully, authentically and with a deeper sense of contentment. I believe counselling is a valuable investment which is empowering, freeing and can be life changing.