My name is Craig Wilson. I grew up in Northern Ireland and have also spent time living in Asia. My hometown is now Edinburgh, where I provide counselling to individuals, 18 & over.
I work with many people suffering anxiety, stress, depression and relationship issues. Often, this is tied to difficulties with self-esteem, a loss or a transition in their life.
My journey with counselling.
Through supporting college students with Inclusive Learning needs, I discovered the power of therapeutic relationship as a side-effect of my role. However, I felt there was something missing that could build upon this benefit. Thus, began my road to becoming a trained therapist, so that I now have the skills to respond most helpfully to the stories people have always felt safe sharing with me.
My own experiences of therapy have ranged from a few sessions to speak through a specific issue, structured blocks of 6 or 12 sessions, to longer open-ended therapy. All were different, most were positive. I know what does, and does not, work for me when I am in the client chair, and that the clients who sit in front of me are unique in their needs…
How I work.
My Pluralistic approach to therapy means that while I can draw on a range of approaches where appropriate or preferred, you can always expect a respectful ear from a warm and grounded listener. Tears, silence, laughter or anger; your emotions are welcome and safe.
I listen, accept, and strive for an empathetic understanding, while also watching for elements that I feel might be useful to offer back, such as patterns, discrepancies or potential omissions. Where something feels really specific, I may offer a metaphor to abstract the problem and help you consider it afresh. Where it feels vague, we might work to find the word that most precisely describes.
Neutral, but not plainly a mirror; my aim is never to distort, but to reconstruct my reflections in a way that helps you to see the familiar with a new clarity and new possibility. Clients often comment at the end of sessions that their thoughts are simplified, they feel more regulated emotionally and have improved hope and motivation.
What this should feel like, in practice, is a really good collaborative conversation. I work with whatever you bring and together we decide how we will explore the content. You may be surprised where the conversation leads, and that the topics continue unfolding in your mind between sessions…
The first step is to contact me to arrange a consultation. I would like to hear your needs and let you ensure that I am the right therapist for you, before we arrange to work together.
My qualifications.
I hold a Diploma in Counselling from the Australian Institute of Professional Counsellors and a Professional Diploma in Psychotherapeutic Counselling Practice with Chrysalis, UK.
I am an Accredited Registrant member of National Counselling & Psychotherapy Society and adhere to their ethical standards.
I am also registered with the ICO as a data controller, hold professional insurance and have regular oversight in my work from both individual and group supervision.
