Premier Home Care

Dr John Davies

BACKGROUND: I originally worked as a Dentist in Ayr for 15 years. I retrained in counselling in 2001, gaining considerable  experience with an NHS Primary Care Clinic, before moving to the private sector: My aim is always to provide a consistently high standard of practice and care. As Head of Counselling at PHC Counselling, I am responsible for the overall management of our service and accept referrals form private clients, employee assistance programmes and insurance companies. I am also a counsellor for the Meningitis Trust across Ayrshire and work as a divorce coach.

QUALIFICATIONS: In addition to my Dental Degree from Glasgow University, I have a Postgraduate Diploma in Counselling from Queen Margaret University in Edinburgh and a Master of Science Degree in Counselling Studies from Edinburgh University.

APPROACH: I use an integrative approach to counselling, integrating aspect of cognitive behavioural, person-centred and psychodynamic theories. My Main focus is always on a sound therapeutic relationship, based on acceptance, genuineness and empathic understanding. My clients and I look at meaning making and how it has become problematic for them, with emphasis on thought patterns and behaviours, working together to meet my client's individual needs. Counselling can be emotionally demanding and can impact upon relationships and clients should be aware of this. However, it usually results in clients living personally more fulfilling and rewarding lives.

Heather Scott

BACKGROUND: I have worked in caring profession since 1990, although my background was originally in Catering and Accountancy. I believe I found my true 'forte' when I joined Premier Home Care in 2001 and this motivated me to train and become a counsellor. As a counsellor my aim is to respect, accept and value my client as a person; and to commit to being genuine and empathic in the client/counsellor relationship. Providing conditions which are safe, supportive and challenging for my client is of utpmost importance to me at all times.

QUALIFICATIONS: I began my counselling training in 2003 and gained my Post Graduate Diploma in 2007. I took up a voluntary trainee counsellor position, within an Ayrshire Primary Care Clinic. Referrals came directly from GPs, allowing me to gain experience in a variety of different patient issues. After graduation, I remained at the clinic on a voluntary basis until the start of 2009, working as the only counsellor there for six months. I believe that this alone demonstrates well a high level of trust in my abilities as a counsellor.

APPROACH: I work predominantly within a Person-Centred Approach, which can help individuals see things more clearly, perhaps from a different perspective too. It can enable them to make choices and reduce confusion, without giving advice or directing a client towards a particular course of action. I strongly believe that we hold our own answers within and that given a safe place to explore issues, clients will be able to draw upon their own resources to find solutions. I believe too that we need to understand the past and experience the present, in order to realise what the future can hold.