Kaire Davidson
UKCP Registered
Psychotherapist
Welcome.
We don’t seem to question cleaning and dressing a wound or resting a broken limb to give it the best conditions to heal quickly. With emotional pain a very similar approach is true: when certain conditions are met healing can begin.
Our emotional wounds and traumas created by our past experiences can disconnect us from ourselves. By sharing our story in a safe environment we can gradually start to have more compassion and understanding for all parts of ourselves, which brings about a natural healing process. My hope for my clients is not to just suffer less but to thrive and to be able to live more aligned with themselves.
I work with a person-centred approach where the relationship between therapist and client is seen as significant in creating conditions for growth. It also explores personal responsibility and its connection to self-empowerment, and often works in the here and now. I offer both short and long term therapy, and I often prefer an 'open-ended' way of working.
Like most counsellors and psychotherapists, I am open to working with a range of issues but here are some areas in which I have a special interest or additional experience:
- Anxiety, depression, emotional pain, emotional numbness
- Difficulties in relating to others; relationship issues
- Transitions and life changes, including midlife crisis, older age transitions, transition into parenthood, moving countries
- Grief and bereavement
- Low self-esteem
- Employment and career issues
- Shock and trauma, including childhood trauma
- Anger
- Fertility, motherhood, menstruality; women's issues
- Hidden biases and related phenomena, especially regarding race, ethnicity, gender
- Identity crisis and existential questions (meaning, purpose)
- ‘Neurodiversity’ and ADHD/ ADD related issues
- Mind-body themes, including psycho-somatic phenomena
About me
I am a fully qualified UKCP registered psychotherapist. My training is in Humanistic and Integrative Psychotherapy, a vigorous 8-year programme, and I have worked with clients since 2015. Humanistic is sometimes understood as ‘person-centred’ and radically differs from the Behavioural and Psychoanalytic approaches. It centres on the idea that provided with the right conditions, human beings inherently strive towards growth and healing. Integrative means that my training covers several different psychotherapy approaches, and I don’t believe in a single way of doing things. For example, I am usually interested in clients’ past experiences and I draw on developmental theory (how our childhood experience shapes how we see ourselves and the world), however, depending on the situation I might also work with journaling, dreams and imagery, Gestalt experimentation, or body awareness.
Additionally, I have several years of work experience in the NHS mental health service, which has given me an insight into the psychiatric service as well as some understanding of mental health medication and diagnoses. However, I do not usually focus on diagnostic terms and it is not part of my training.
My work is influenced by my varied interests, such as the mind-body connection, eco-psychology, yoga and meditation, men's and women's circles as powerful arenas for accelerated personal growth; symbols, stories, metaphors, journaling. I have a background in body-mind practices and I have been teaching Hatha Yoga for over 12 years.
I am originally from Estonia and initially came to study and live in London nearly two decades ago. As with many therapists, my own healing journey through therapy and yoga eventually led me to train as a psychotherapist.
Training & Qualifications
Humanistic and Integrative Psychotherapy, BCPC, Bath (2023) MA, Dip HIP
Foundation Certificate in Integrative Counselling and Psychotherapy, The Minster Centre, London (2010)
Further training by the NHS:
ASIST Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (2018)
Dual Diagnosis (2019)
Equality & Diversity (2019)
Mental Health Act (2019)
Safeguarding Adults Levels 1 & 2 (2019)
Safeguarding Children Level 3 (2021)
Transgender Awareness (2018)
I am a registered member of the UKCP - the governing body for the profession of psychotherapy in the UK.
I abide by the UKCP Code of Ethics and the BCPC Code of Practice.
I am also a registered practitioner with AXA Health and Aviva, which means that policy holders can access therapy covered by their insurance, once approved by the insurance company.
Get in touch
to enquire about availability and to book an initial session. The cost if the initial session is £60 and it is an exploratory session with no obligation to commit to further work together. It is an opportunity for you to say a little bit about what brings you to therapy and for us to explore how I might be able to help.
I also offer a 15-minute phone call (free of charge) if you would like to talk through practicalities, ask a specific question, or quickly connect to help make your decision.
Read more about my approach to therapy on FAQ page.
"The curious paradox is that
when I accept myself just as I am,
then I change."
Carl R. Rogers
📞 +447851 728 773
📌 The South Side Centre
86 Causewayside
EH9 1PY Edinburgh
📧 kaire.davidson@gmail.com
© Kaire Davidson 2024 All rights reserved.
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