Counselling in Balerno

Sleep issues - With my sleep training in CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy) & Angelic Reiki. I offer gentle methods to provide help for those who have sleeping issues, such as falling/staying asleep, insomnia & many other general sleeping concerns. If you struggling to sleep & wish a step by step method in an easy to follow program created by result proven strategies then I can help you. I offer 2 styles of help. My 1st is a 1-2-1 program in a 4-week program, working weekly to help you achieve better sleep. The 2nd is a D.I.Y. self-sleep guide, the same theories used, but you complete it at your own pace.

I’m an experienced, COSCA-registered counsellor focused on children and young people, with a background in education and family support. I’ve been counselling children and young people since 2013. I’m based in Edinburgh and work with children across central Scotland and beyond.

I am striving to provide safe, ethical, and evidence based practice for all my clients. I see each individual as a human being who has endured suffering, and accepting unconditionally the manifestation of these suffering you may present. I would work with you collaboratively to understand your difficulties and accompany you in the journey of discovery of your own strengths, building resilience, and developing an adaptive way of coping in life. I work in an integrative, and trauma informed way in which different approaches may combine to suit your needs at any given time. Therapeutic approaches I am experienced with are listed.

As a qualified Cognitive Behavioural Therapist, I am dedicated to providing individuals with a safe and confidential space to explore and address a wide range of emotional, psychological, and behavioural challenges. With extensive training and a deep commitment to helping others, I offer guidance, support, and evidence-based interventions to promote mental and emotional well-being. I work collaboratively with clients to assess their unique concerns, develop treatment plans to identify and modify thought patterns or behaviours that contribute to distress. I introduce clients to essential CBT tools and practical interventions.

I am an integrative Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) counsellor, working exclusively online. My main role as a counsellor is to help you connect with how you want to be in the world and to help us work together towards putting that into practice. I believe counselling can be of benefit to anyone who wants support with changing the way they relate to themselves and their environment. It could be, for example, that you are missing out on opportunities due to fear of failure, you feel stuck in a relationship, job, or friendship group, or that whatever you do never seems to quieten the cruel self-critical voice in your head.

A warm welcome. My name is Dr Anna Dako. As a trained therapist in somatic psychology, I believe that we are all born with inner resources that we inherit and embody and which are there to support us during hard times. What we often do not inherit are the skills in tapping into those resources. Being able to grow in capacity to help yourself with a gentle help of a practitioner is always a huge step in the right direction. In my practice, I always try to activate most natural methods for working with somatic experience, reflective expression, inner awareness and creative openness for change. To book a session, visit Dunami website.

As you’re here, there’s no doubt you’re struggling with an issue or problem that might feel overwhelming, distressing or out of control. Rest assured, help is at hand. We all experience various symptoms and problems throughout life, and it’s my job to help you achieve significant and meaningful change. I won’t bore you with therapy jargon either, there’s probably more pressing issues on your mind, and I know what that's like. What I will say, is that after years of dedicated training, experience and witnessing people make real difference in their lives, I know professional therapy helps.

Sometimes life throws challenges in front of us which we may struggle to cope with. This could be a sudden and unexpected change like a loss or bereavement. It could be something that we have always struggled with that is making it challenging to move forward with life. Situations such as these can be stressful, and sometimes we can't shake off the anxiety and depression or we may even experience anhedonia (inability to feel pleasure in usually pleasurable activities). It might also be a past trauma or abuse that is causing the challenges in the present life, revealing itself as panic for example.

Are you struggling with anxiety or depression? Unhappy, experiencing relationship problems, feeling alone or held back by trauma or bereavement? Are you seeking counselling for a child or young person? Therapy can be short term, 4-6 sessions and we can work together in a highly focused way, including exploring strategies if you wish to. For some, longer term therapy is preferred. In this we can explore issues in greater depth and you can be supported to make lasting changes in your life. For children, therapy happens in the midst of play and craft activities.

Taking the first step towards therapy, or returning to therapy, can be difficult. Yet working through your experiences can help to process life more meaningfully. Being a qualified psychodynamic therapist means that I understand how even the smallest of issues can play such a huge part in what you may be feeling inside. We can work through this together, as I invite you to share your issues in a warm, empathic, yet well-held space.

Do you feel lonely, misunderstood or not heard? Do you have difficulties in your relationship ? Are you struggling with change? Has anxiety been causing you problems in your daily life? I can offer a safe, confidential space where you can explore your feelings and thoughts about your relational or personal issues.

I get that it’s not easy to ask for support and admit to vulnerability. I view therapy as as a journey of discovery, healing and growth. Through 'experiential learning' and 'dialogue' we will work with your ‘embodied awareness’ of ‘how’ you are in relationships, ‘how’ you make choices and ‘how’ you co-create your world. We will look at where you feel 'stuck' and what seems 'difficult'; we will 'stay with' the feelings and complexity that may unfold. I believe change happens organically when we have enough 'support', fully acknowledge the situation we are in, and commit to work.If that resonates with you, please contact me.

Have you been in abusive relationship after abusive relationship and wonder why you can't seem to find a partner who will treat you well and respect you? Do you worry that you won't be able to have a healthy relationship? Perhaps you find yourself prioritising others needs over your own and feel that you come last in all your relationships throughout your life. Do you wish you could set boundaries with others, and have the ability to ask for what you want without feeling guilty?

I am aware that you might be coming to counselling for all sorts of reasons It may be something from your past or something that you are dealing with now, or both. You may feel stuck and want to understand yourself better or just not know what way to turn at all but know you want things to be better. Together we will work out what is going to be most helpful for you in counselling to enable you to move forward. I will support you to process and manage whatever it is that you are struggling with and come up with a flexible counselling plan to help you feel better and more able to manage and thrive in your life.

SEX Therapy now available/ / What if you could be kinder to yourself? What if you could experience less anxiety and low mood? What if you could be supported in healing from past traumas? What if you could become more assertive and set healthy boundaries? Perhaps you don’t know what’s wrong but you’re feeling unsettled, sad, anxious, confused, or stressed. You might have put on a happy mask for too long and you’re exhausted. I invite you to imagine how things could be different and, with this hope - no matter how small the hope might be-, I invite you to get in touch with me.