What is psychodynamic counselling?

​Counselling is a process of supported reflection that can ease stresses and worries. It often leads to greater self-understanding which enables decisions in the best interests of the person to be made. At times of personal change, distress, challenge and loss many people have found counselling to be of great help.  This counselling service is based on psychodynamic theory.

Who’s the counselling for?

At HDS we want our clients to feel heard, held in mind and valued.  After you submit a request for counselling, our Clinical Coordinator will contact you to discuss this in more detail. Working with integrity and carefully considering what is in your best interests is of paramount importance to us.

If we feel that you would be better helped elsewhere we will discuss this and recommend the more suitable alternative. You are then matched with a counsellor who may, but not necessarily, be the counsellor you met at the initial consultation.  Counselling sessions last for 50 minutes and are, as far as possible, at the same time each week.

Who provides the counselling?

HDS employs counsellors on a contractual basis.  Please click on the link below to find out more about our counsellors.  Counsellors are all psychodynamically trained, which means that we think that the past is a powerful influence on the present, and we are aware of unconscious as well as conscious aspects of behaviour.  We believe that the relationship between the client and counsellor is very significant and we give this a lot of thought.  Endings are discussed between the counsellor and client and are carefully managed.

How is the quality of service ensured?

The psychodynamic psychotherapy service staff have undertaken extensive training. The service requires that members have considerable experience, and that they maintain their own continuing professional development. The latter includes consultancy supervision of ongoing work, which is an important quality assurance process. HDS has a complaints procedure should you wish to make a complaint.

Where do counselling sessions take place?

Most appointments are held in central Glasgow, which is where trainees are based. Some trainees can also offer shorter blocks of 10 appointments online. 

Counsellors will work from a variety of locations and this will be discussed with you. Qualified counsellors usually have availability in Glasgow City, East Dunbartonshire, East Renfrewshire, Lanarkshire, Edinburgh, Ayr, and at other locations or online.

A low cost service with trainee counsellors is now available.

HDS has a soundproof counselling room at our central Glasgow offices, as well as other rooms suitable for counselling sessions. 

Trainee counsellors are available at specific times between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday at our HDS offices.  There is usually a waiting time of 3 weeks for appointments with trainees. With a trainee counsellor you would usually have up to 20 sessions with a possibility of extension (10 sessions if online).

Our qualified counsellors have more flexibility and can also offer evening appointments, with no limit on the number of appointments.

Appointments are on the same day and time each week. Appointments fortnightly or on different days of the week might be possible in exceptional circumstances, but is not advised because the routine is important for emotional safety.

How much does counselling cost?

We offer two fee options, including an affordable option, which will be discussed with you during your assessment. First appointments are charged in the same way.

• £55 per session if you wish to work with qualified counsellors in an open-ended way (with you deciding on when you’d like to finish therapy).
• £25 if you wish to work with trainees for a block of 20 or 40 sessions.  

Book an appointment / Make an enquiry

The first step to booking an appointment is to complete the online counselling request form or to call us.  We will discuss with you what you are looking for and find the right counsellor for you.  We’ll send you an email confirming the appointment for your initial session and include a link to further information about what to expect.

Make a counselling request 

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