Our Therapists - Helen, Lorraine and John

Helen Farquhar

Helen is a trained practitioner of Person Centred Counselling. As well as working with private clients, she has worked as a Counselling Psychotherapist for an Integrated Mental Health Team. In this setting she  focused on working with clients experiencing issues such as depression, anxiety, trauma and stress. Helen has many years of counselling experience in schools working with both primary and secondary school age pupils and has also worked as a counsellor within a university setting. Helen has a number of years’ experience working with adult survivors of abuse dealing with trauma and CPTSD. Helen works with clients over both short-term and long-term periods depending on their therapy needs.

Alongside her counselling Helen is a College Lecturer delivering both HNC and HND Counselling training and has many years' experience in teaching Adult Education.   

Prior to her counselling career Helen worked for over 20 years as an Advice and Guidance Manager and has a wealth of experience in supporting clients to develop their skills and potential.  This work also involved running and developing numerous training programmes to support the training of staff and clients to promote self-development in a number of areas connected to employability.

Qualifications and Training

MSc in Counselling and Psychotherapy - Stirling University

Postgraduate Diploma in Counselling and Psychotherapy - Stirling University

COSCA Diploma in Counselling Supervision

Certificate in Advanced Drawing and Talking Therapy

HNC Children Matters

Trained in Trauma Work

Mindfulness In Schools Trainer

Training in Mindfulness Therapy MBSR

Training in Art Therapy

ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training)

BA (Hons) in Tertiary Education with Teaching Qualification

Diploma in Higher Education with Adult Literacies

Postgraduate Diploma in Advice and Guidance

Lorraine Petrie

Lorraine is a trained practitioner of Person Centred Counselling. Her experience has focused on working with adults and young people experiencing mental health issues e.g. anxiety and depression in the Primary Care setting. Lorraine has many years experience in working with pupils in Secondary schools supporting young people with their mental health and wellbeing. In addition to this she has worked as a bereavement counsellor and worked for a local mental health charity counselling young people and adults.

As well as her counselling work, Lorraine is an experienced cancer nurse. She is currently working as an e.learning trainer for staff in the cancer workforce. She has experience of working for a cancer organisation where she specialised in supporting people affected by cancer. Lorraine worked closely with individuals to navigate their way through the emotional roller coaster of a cancer diagnosis, treatments and beyond.Lorraine has experience of supporting clients in both short and long term therapy work. 

Qualification and Training

MSc in Counselling and Psychotherapy - Stirling University

Postgraduate Diploma in Counselling and Psychotherapy - Stirling University

COSCA Diploma in Counselling Supervision

Certificate in Advanced Drawing and Talking Therapy

HNC Children Matters

Training in Mindfulness Therapy MBSR

Mindfulness in Schools Trainer

ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training)

Mental Health First Aid - 2 days

Mental Health First Aid Lite

COSCA Counselling Skills Course - modules 1-4

CRUSE Specialist Module in Bereavement and Loss

BN with Specialist Practitioner Qualification in Cancer Nursing

Registered General Nurse

John Paterson

John is a trained practitioner of Pluralistic Counselling. This means that while operating from a Person-Centred stance he can draw upon experience of additional counselling approaches like Psychodynamic, Cognitive Behavioural and Humanistic disciplines for a solution that best fits a client’s needs.  John has years of experience running his own practice and has worked as a counsellor within the 3^rd sector charities and with a university counselling research organisation.  John has focussed his career on working with adults experiencing issues such as depression, anxiety, trauma, PTSD, anger management, stress, and relationship challenges. John works with clients over both short-term and long-term periods depending on their therapy needs.

Alongside his counselling John is a College Lecturer delivering both HNC and HND Counselling training.      

Prior to his counselling career John served in the Armed Forces and worked in the construction industry.  He has been a Business Coach and Action Learning facilitator involved with technical Start-Up companies and 3^rd sector charity organisations.  This has given John a wealth of experience in helping and supporting both individuals and teams.

Qualification and Training

MSc in Pluralistic Counselling – Abertay University

Postgraduate Certificate in Counselling – Edinburgh University

ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training)