Counselling service open

We are pleased to announce that our counselling service is open to support clients across Scotland.

Human Development Scotland (HDS) is a charity with a mission to relieve mental and emotional distress by increasing the availability of, and access to, high quality psychodynamic and psychoanalytic counselling and psychotherapy for all who need them.

“I appreciated having the space to talk, to think, to explore. Having a counsellor that I trusted and could work with. Being given the opportunity to take as long as I needed.” - client feedback about HDS counselling services

Find out more about the counselling services we currently provide by clicking here.

To speak to our counselling services team, complete the online counselling request form or call us on 0141 331 2419.

Latest

May Open Day - TWCYP course

Join us for our in-person Open Day for the part-time postgraduate Masters in Psychoanalytic Observation and Reflective Practice: Therapeutic Work With Children and Young People. It’s an opportunity for prospective students to find out more and speak to our teaching staff about our academic courses. Please note that pre-registration is required for this event.
ISE - Using the tools of psychotherapy in a community context

Our next ISE (Intensive Study Event) will be in-person and led by Jane Elfer who is a Child and Adolescent Psychotherapist. Closing date for bookings is 5pm on Wednesday 24 April.
Study with HDS in 2024

HDS offers a range of professional and academic training courses. Our training is popular with people working in ‘people-facing’ professions. For example: health and social care services, teachers, third sector and private practice counselling. Find out more about how you can develop your career with HDS.
Talking therapy may help menopause mood

Talking therapy could effectively treat menopause symptoms such as low mood and anxiety, research suggests. Some women showed, "statistically significant improvements" in anxiety and depression following talking therapies, compared with no or alternative treatments.

Human relations and counselling

The Human Relations and Counselling Programme consists of 3 parts to provide different levels of training and qualification. This includes a Dilpoma (PGDip) and Masters (MSc). The course is ideal for people who currently use elements of counselling in their day-to-day work and would like to take further steps towards enhancing their practice and deepening their professional capacity.
Therapeutic work with children and young people

MSc Psychoanalytic Observation and Reflective Practice: Therapeutic Work With Children and Young People. This modular course offers an in-depth understanding of infants’, children’s and adolescents’ emotional and personality development, the significance of primary relationships and their relevance to working with these age groups and their families.
Child and Adolescent Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy

Professional Doctorate in Child and Adolescent Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy. This is a practical and theoretical training course in psychoanalytical psychotherapy with children and young people. This course is the only one in Scotland which is approved by the Association of Child Psychotherapists (ACP).
Counselling Children, Young People and Families

This post-qualifying Certificate is a part-time training programme designed to prepare practitioners to work with children, young adults (up to mid-20s) and their families and is taught from a psychodynamic perspective.
Staff

Meet the team at Human Development Scotland (HDS) who work to improve the mental health and emotional wellbeing of people in Scotland.
Foundations of Human relations and counselling

An introduction to psychodynamic ideas about what it means to be human, together with experiential training in communication and counselling skills incorporating psychodynamic principles. This course gives unparalleled insight into the complexities of human interactions and is a foundation for the use of advanced communications and counselling skills.
What is psychodynamic theory?

We exist to improve mental health and emotional wellbeing through professional training, CPD and the provision of counselling and psychotherapy in Scotland. At the heart of our work at Human Development Scotland (HDS) is psychodynamic theory.
Training

Human Development Scotland (HDS) offers a range of professional and academic training courses, short courses and continuing professional development (CPD) opportunities. Courses currently on offer include the Professional Doctorate in Child and Adolescent Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy; MSc Psychoanalytic Observation and Reflective Practice: Therapeutic Work with Children and Young People; Diploma in Human Relations and Counselling.
At a glance: courses, prospectus, fees & applications

At a glance look at the professional training on offer from HDS. Information and links to course information, including: entry requirements, fees, timings, applications and enquiries.
What makes the psychodynamic approach different?

At the heart of our work at Human Development Scotland (HDS) is psychodynamic theory. Here we explain what makes the psychodynamic approach different?

Friends of HDS

Friends of HDS is our way of recognising groups of supporters who make a regular commitment to the work of HDS. Find out more about becoming a Friend of HDS. Read more

At a glance: courses, prospectus, fees & applications

At a glance look at the professional training on offer from HDS. Information and links to course information, including: entry requirements, fees, timings, applications and enquiries. Read more