A place to discover more of yourself.
My work is about discovery and transformation. I support people to make discoveries about themselves that allow relief from painful emotional states and for new possibilities to open up in their lives.
This process is grounded in the body. Our bodily experience, when deeply explored, can reveal patterns of feeling, thinking and perceiving that are limiting us and are ready to transform.
In 2002 I gained a Masters Degree in Somatic Counselling Psychology and have been certified in the Hakomi Method of somatic psychotherapy since 2009.
The way I work is also influenced by the practice of 'Circling', which is a powerful, mindful, embodied connection practice. I am certified as a Circling Leader by Circling Europe.
While one is a form of psychotherapy and the other is a connection practice, both Hakomi and Circling can be understood as shared meditation processes in which attention gently rests with our present experience as it unfolds and is expressed.
I am a registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and abide by their code of ethics.
I live in Craigleith near Stockbridge in Edinburgh. In my free time I enjoy hillwalking, cycling, dancing, playing the piano and creating music.
How I Can Help You
Perhaps you are experiencing emotional or psychological distress, overwhelm or simply feel the need for a kind, understanding presence to meet you where you are. Whatever you are experiencing, I offer a safe, compassionate space to contact the deeper layers of yourself, discover what is needed, help you to find relief from stress and take the next steps forward.
So much of our everyday mental and emotional suffering is unnecessary, arising out of patterns formed as adaptations to past painful experiences and traumas which have come to limit our experience of the present.
Influenced by Hakomi, which has been called: 'assisted self discovery', I use a mindful approach in therapy, encouraging careful attention to embodied experience in the present.
Exploring in this mindful way can directly reveal to you patterns that are living within you now, in the form of bodily sensations, tensions, movements and gestures, along with the associated patterns of thinking and perceiving. This experiential approach can be very direct, bypassing the need for a lot of storytelling and conversation within a session, and allowing a lot more attention to what is unfolding spontaneously in the body and in the mind.
The insights gained this way are spontaneous, direct and intuitively knowned, rather than being derived from conscious thought, and can thus facilitate shifts in how we perceive and feel about ourselves and the world, rather than just how we think about it. For example, rather than asking you why you feel anxious, which might lead you to think up an answer, I would invite you to notice and feel into how you experience that in your body right now and perhaps how your body is managing those feelings through tensions or movement patternt. I might then invite you to deliberately make a little change to that bodily pattern and together notice what happens next, trusting the innate wisdom of the body to unfold towards wholeness.
What issues can therapy help with?
People come to me for help a wide range of issues. Here are a few of the more common difficulties that can be supported through my therapeutic work:
Feelings of stress or anxiety
Panic attacks
Relationship problems
Grief, loss or bereavement
Problems with addiction
Trauma and post-traumatic stress
Abuse
Depression
Problems with confidence or self-esteem
Anger management
Issues relating to sexuality
Difficulties at work or in retirement
Problems with family or school life
Get in touch
Feel free to contact me if you have any questions about how therapy works, or to arrange an initial assessment appointment. This enables us to discuss the reasons you are thinking of coming to therapy, whether it could be helpful for you and whether I am the right therapist to help. You can also call me on 07854 083131 if you would prefer to leave a message or speak to me first.
Sessions are usually weekly, lasting one hour and cost £55. I offer a limited number of places for people on a low income and for students. If you need to cancel a session, please give 24 hours notice.
© Diarmid Baillie
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