Mairi Aitchison
Glasgow
Summary
I am a Trainee Counselling Psychologist in Stage Two of the DPsych programme at Glasgow Caledonian University. I currently work in private practice and with a men’s charity organisation, utilising person-centred/experiential therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, and elements of psychodynamic therapy. I have accrued 210 client hours and expect to reach approximately 250 by July. Before beginning the course, I worked extensively across statutory and non-statutory services with children, adults, and families.
Overview
3
3
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work history
Emotional Support Worker
SAY Women
Glasgow
2024.09 - 2026.04
- Promote women to make social connections with other victim-survivors
- Participate in training delivery, policy development, and dissemination of research undertaken with the women in the organisation
- Support women in preparation to testify in high court cases against perpetrators of sexual violence
- Support women to write victim impact statements for courts
- The service supports women who have experienced sexual abuse or sexual violence and provides support for homelessness.
- Currently offering 1:1 emotional support to help women process trauma/learn coping skills/access education
Children's Practitioner
Oxfordshire City Council
Barton, Oxfordshire
2023.09 - 2024.06
- Safeguarding children/risk assessment
- Family intervention planning
- Delivering evidenced-based interventions 1:1 in schools and homes
- Liaising with social work/schools/police/clinical teams as part of a complex multidisciplinary team
- Advocating for children's needs and rights in ‘core group meetings' and ‘professionals' meetings'
- Working with families with complex mental health issues + domestic violence, neglect, child sexual abuse, school attendance, and ASD/ADHD/SEN
- Designing and delivering interventions for teenagers with low self-esteem, anxiety, depression, and attachment difficulties
- Attending/advocating in legal proceedings
- Supporting in preparing reports and presenting evidence in court with the assigned social worker (Legal)
- The Family Solutions Service in Barton supports families across Oxfordshire, including Early Help support such as ‘Team Around the Family' (TAF) and ‘Early Help Assessment' (EHA). It also includes statutory planning within ‘Child in Need' (CIN) & Child Protection (CP) frameworks.
- Where necessary, we undertake court proceedings to safeguard children.
Education
DPsych - Counselling Psychology
Glasgow Caledonian University
Glasgow 09/2024 -
PGCert - Psychodynamic Counselling
Oxford University
Oxford 10/2023 - 06/2024
Bachelor of Science - Psychology And Counselling
Abertay University
Dundee 07.2023
Skills
- Sexual violence and sexual abuse specialism
- Independent caseload management
- Assessment, formulation, intervention planning
- Effective liaison with agencies
- Client advocacy and support
- Therapeutic work with children and young people
- Collaboration and proactive learning
- Ethical practice commitment
- Confidentiality and boundary maintenance
- Empathetic communication skills
- Interpersonal relationship building
- Organisational reliability and professionalism
- Continuous personal and professional development
- Creative problem-solving and service improvement
- Team loyalty and well-being focus
Certification
- Jul 2022-Jun 2023 | COSCA Certificate in Counselling Skills | Rowan Consultancy |This course is credit rated at 40 SCQF points at level 8
- Apr 2014-Dec 2014 | SVQ 3 Social Services (children and young people)
Personal interests
Attending heavy metal festivals/gigs, Anime films, Gym, Singing, Dancing
Volunteer work
- Counselling Skills Intern, 2022, 2023, Providing feedback on triad skills work, Assessing student's understanding of person-centred counselling skills, Monitoring ethical/confidential standards, supervisory role for my lecturers in counselling skills.
- NHS, Royal Victoria Hospital Neurological Hub + Centre for Brain Injury Rehabilitation (CBIR), Activity Volunteer, 2022, 2023, Assisted Speech and Language Therapists in delivering group therapy sessions for individuals recovering from stroke or living with Parkinson’s disease., Supported targeted interventions focused on aphasia, promoting communication and language recovery., Collaborated with Physiotherapists to aid in rehabilitation exercises and patient engagement., Provided support to families attending therapy with their relatives, offering guidance and emotional reassurance.
Affiliations
- PVG/Disclosure Scotland
- British Psychological Society Psychotherapy and Counselling Psychology Division
Examples of recent training & presentations
- Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training for CYP and adults
- Presenter, BPS Undergraduate Conference, 2023
- Musical Soundscapes and Child Development – Anna Freud Centre, London
- Sexual Abuse in Boarding Schools: A Lecture with Survivors – Oxford University
- Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide – Trained volunteer/supporter
- Modules in Couple and Family Counselling – The Institute of Counselling
Timeline
Emotional Support Worker
SAY Women
2024.09 - 2026.04
Children's Practitioner
Oxfordshire City Council
2023.09 - 2024.06
DPsych - Counselling Psychology
Glasgow Caledonian University
09/2024 -
PGCert - Psychodynamic Counselling
Oxford University
10/2023 - 06/2024
Bachelor of Science - Psychology And Counselling
Abertay University