Sex-Positive, Kink Allied Counselling in Edinburgh
I am sex-positive and kink-aware.
I offer individual psychotherapy for adults, with a particular interest in psychologically complex and often hard-to-speak-about experiences. My work commonly involves shame, guilt, and self-criticism; patterns that repeat despite insight or effort; sexuality, desire, and taboo; the impact of sexual harm; sexual behaviour that feels troubling or conflicted; questions of gender, sexuality, and relationship diversity; and difficulties in relationships and intimacy. The work is exploratory and reflective, and suited to people who want to develop a deeper understanding of what is troubling them.
I am sex-positive and kink-aware.
I offer individual psychotherapy for adults, with a particular interest in psychologically complex and often hard-to-speak-about experiences. My work commonly involves shame, guilt, and self-criticism; patterns that repeat despite insight or effort; sexuality, desire, and taboo; the impact of sexual harm; sexual behaviour that feels troubling or conflicted; questions of gender, sexuality, and relationship diversity; and difficulties in relationships and intimacy. The work is exploratory and reflective, and suited to people who want to develop a deeper understanding of what is troubling them.
I work with gender, sexual, and relationship diversity (GSRD), including LGBTQIA+ counselling, kink-aware therapy, and non-monogamous relationship support.
Sex is like cooking: a creative, messy process that never turns out quite the same way twice; the pleasure lies in the experience, not in the final result. Yet sex is so difficult to talk about, and for many, sex can feel stressful, painful, or disconnected. You may struggle with desire, performance, or pleasure, longing to feel confident and connected again. Together, we can explore concerns such as desire, sexual pain, vaginismus, orgasmic difficulties, erections, ejaculation, sexuality, sexual confidence, and many other areas with compassion, curiosity, and understanding.
I work with gender, sexual, and relationship diversity (GSRD), including LGBTQIA+ counselling, kink-aware therapy, and non-monogamous relationship support.
Sex is like cooking: a creative, messy process that never turns out quite the same way twice; the pleasure lies in the experience, not in the final result. Yet sex is so difficult to talk about, and for many, sex can feel stressful, painful, or disconnected. You may struggle with desire, performance, or pleasure, longing to feel confident and connected again. Together, we can explore concerns such as desire, sexual pain, vaginismus, orgasmic difficulties, erections, ejaculation, sexuality, sexual confidence, and many other areas with compassion, curiosity, and understanding.
My practice is a welcoming, safe space for all clients to explore their thoughts, feelings, and experiences without judgment. We can uncover what’s holding you back, develop effective strategies to overcome challenges and support you in building a life that aligns with your values and goals.
I work with individuals, couples, and multiple-partnered persons via online therapy. My practice is informed by Psychosexual Therapy, and I therefore support clients with issues of sexual function, sexual health, and gender and sexual diversity. I also have experience working with consensual non-monogamy.
My practice is a welcoming, safe space for all clients to explore their thoughts, feelings, and experiences without judgment. We can uncover what’s holding you back, develop effective strategies to overcome challenges and support you in building a life that aligns with your values and goals.
I work with individuals, couples, and multiple-partnered persons via online therapy. My practice is informed by Psychosexual Therapy, and I therefore support clients with issues of sexual function, sexual health, and gender and sexual diversity. I also have experience working with consensual non-monogamy.
Whatever brings you to therapy, my aim is to offer a comfortable, non-judgmental space where you can explore your thoughts and feelings at your own pace. Together, we can work toward clarity, healing, and a deeper understanding of yourself, helping you make choices that feel authentic and empowering. I offer therapy online and in person from my practice in Edinburgh. I work collaboratively, going where you need to go, with a focus on building mutual trust and understanding.
Whatever brings you to therapy, my aim is to offer a comfortable, non-judgmental space where you can explore your thoughts and feelings at your own pace. Together, we can work toward clarity, healing, and a deeper understanding of yourself, helping you make choices that feel authentic and empowering. I offer therapy online and in person from my practice in Edinburgh. I work collaboratively, going where you need to go, with a focus on building mutual trust and understanding.
I specialise in working with the whole person, but much of my practice is working with folks in the LGBTQIA plus, psychedelic, activist, kink, neurodiverse and/or polyamory communities.
Counselling with me provides you with a space of radical acceptance to explore your beliefs, your identities, and your experiences of the world. Together, we will co-create a space to experiment with new ways of being. Or a place to integrate or challenge yourself. Or simply some time and space to be heard, and get curious about the meaning of your life (past, present, future).
I work with a wide range of people and you are welcome to get in touch if my profile resonates with you. Often, I work with activists, the LGBTQIA+ community, kinky people, poly people, neurodiverse people, outsiders and edge-walkers (and more).
I specialise in working with the whole person, but much of my practice is working with folks in the LGBTQIA plus, psychedelic, activist, kink, neurodiverse and/or polyamory communities.
Counselling with me provides you with a space of radical acceptance to explore your beliefs, your identities, and your experiences of the world. Together, we will co-create a space to experiment with new ways of being. Or a place to integrate or challenge yourself. Or simply some time and space to be heard, and get curious about the meaning of your life (past, present, future).
I work with a wide range of people and you are welcome to get in touch if my profile resonates with you. Often, I work with activists, the LGBTQIA+ community, kinky people, poly people, neurodiverse people, outsiders and edge-walkers (and more).
Laced in is an approach that is open and sex positive.
Welcome!
I'm Jess, an open-minded, sex-positive counsellor - Exeter & online across Europe, supporting Anxiety, Trauma & Relationship Growth. Neurodiversity (ADHD, Autism, Dyslexia, OCD) & LGBTQIA+ affirming.
Life can feel overwhelming when intense emotions or past experiences continue to affect daily life. You may struggle with emotional regulation difficulties, or hypersensitivity. You might have noticed patterns like fear of abandonment, codependency, or enmeshment in relationships. Past experiences, including attachment trauma or emotional abuse, can make it difficult to set healthy boundaries in relationships.
Laced in is an approach that is open and sex positive.
Welcome!
I'm Jess, an open-minded, sex-positive counsellor - Exeter & online across Europe, supporting Anxiety, Trauma & Relationship Growth. Neurodiversity (ADHD, Autism, Dyslexia, OCD) & LGBTQIA+ affirming.
Life can feel overwhelming when intense emotions or past experiences continue to affect daily life. You may struggle with emotional regulation difficulties, or hypersensitivity. You might have noticed patterns like fear of abandonment, codependency, or enmeshment in relationships. Past experiences, including attachment trauma or emotional abuse, can make it difficult to set healthy boundaries in relationships.
I offer an accepting and welcoming counselling space to help you explore what matters most to you. You may be experiencing anxiety, low mood, relationship challenges, painful feelings about yourself, your community, or the wider world.
In our sessions, we'll work collaboratively to help you find deeper understanding, insights, and paths toward the changes you're seeking.
I am committed to continual learning in order to practice in an anti-oppressive, trauma-informed, anti-racist, neuro-affirming way.
I offer an accepting and welcoming counselling space to help you explore what matters most to you. You may be experiencing anxiety, low mood, relationship challenges, painful feelings about yourself, your community, or the wider world.
In our sessions, we'll work collaboratively to help you find deeper understanding, insights, and paths toward the changes you're seeking.
I am committed to continual learning in order to practice in an anti-oppressive, trauma-informed, anti-racist, neuro-affirming way.
cinder
/ˈsɪndə/
noun-
The small, partly burnt essence of a thing that's stopped giving off flames but still has the means of re-ignition within it.
I chose this name because I am a strong believer in your infallible potential to endure & survive, to return from something, changed, but at peace, able to take positive, progressive steps when able & to receive understanding and empathetic counsel without pressure or presumption when faced with setbacks or when improvement feels impossible or even regressive. I aim to create a space free of judgement & presumption, providing an opportunity to be seen as who you genuinely are or can be.
cinder
/ˈsɪndə/
noun-
The small, partly burnt essence of a thing that's stopped giving off flames but still has the means of re-ignition within it.
I chose this name because I am a strong believer in your infallible potential to endure & survive, to return from something, changed, but at peace, able to take positive, progressive steps when able & to receive understanding and empathetic counsel without pressure or presumption when faced with setbacks or when improvement feels impossible or even regressive. I aim to create a space free of judgement & presumption, providing an opportunity to be seen as who you genuinely are or can be.
Hello, I'm Claire.
I'm a counsellor in Transactional Analysis, often called TA. As a qualified therapist, I believe my role is to support you to flourish and thrive in all areas of your life. My approach is warm, non-judgemental, and respectful and my way of working is to establish your goals for therapy and to check in regularly with the progress you're making. TA has lots of great models, techniques and tools to help us in our work together to make sense of the difficulties you're facing.
I have experience of issues like depression, anxiety, relationship difficulties and styles, neurodivergence - especially later life diagnosis.
Hello, I'm Claire.
I'm a counsellor in Transactional Analysis, often called TA. As a qualified therapist, I believe my role is to support you to flourish and thrive in all areas of your life. My approach is warm, non-judgemental, and respectful and my way of working is to establish your goals for therapy and to check in regularly with the progress you're making. TA has lots of great models, techniques and tools to help us in our work together to make sense of the difficulties you're facing.
I have experience of issues like depression, anxiety, relationship difficulties and styles, neurodivergence - especially later life diagnosis.
You might not be entirely sure what you’re looking for in a therapist. Maybe previous therapy hasn’t taken you as far as you’d hoped, or the sheer amount of choice feels overwhelming. Finding the right therapeutic relationship often matters more than any single approach.
I won’t be the right therapist for everyone. But if something here resonates, that's a good sign that we could do meaningful work together. My focus is helping you reconnect with your instincts through collaboration, exploration, and a therapeutic relationship grounded in safety and trust.
You might not be entirely sure what you’re looking for in a therapist. Maybe previous therapy hasn’t taken you as far as you’d hoped, or the sheer amount of choice feels overwhelming. Finding the right therapeutic relationship often matters more than any single approach.
I won’t be the right therapist for everyone. But if something here resonates, that's a good sign that we could do meaningful work together. My focus is helping you reconnect with your instincts through collaboration, exploration, and a therapeutic relationship grounded in safety and trust.
Hello, and thank you for taking the time to read through my page. I'm originally from South Africa, but have lived across the UK since 2016. This has given me the opportunity to develop an insight into how complex life, and our histories, can be, and the impact and difficulties this can give rise to. I draw from a psychodynamic base- understanding the nature and impact both the relationships with others, as well as ourselves, can have. I have experience working with teens - older adults, and tend to offer a more gentle, rather than structured, approach. I strive to develop a space where client's feel safe, protected, and heard.
Hello, and thank you for taking the time to read through my page. I'm originally from South Africa, but have lived across the UK since 2016. This has given me the opportunity to develop an insight into how complex life, and our histories, can be, and the impact and difficulties this can give rise to. I draw from a psychodynamic base- understanding the nature and impact both the relationships with others, as well as ourselves, can have. I have experience working with teens - older adults, and tend to offer a more gentle, rather than structured, approach. I strive to develop a space where client's feel safe, protected, and heard.
My practice is inclusive of gender, sexual and relationship diversity (GSRD), kink-aware, neurodivergence, sex worker and LGBTQIA affirming.
Are you tired of feeling “too much” and wondering why life feels so heavy? Maybe you often feel anxious, overwhelmed, or like everyone else got a rulebook for life you somehow missed. Friendships and relationships may leave you doubting yourself, replaying every conversation in your head, or wondering if you’re the problem. Perhaps you’ve tried therapy before, but it focused only on coping strategies, without offering the real understanding you needed. I offer a tailored, affirming approach for deeply feeling, anxious, and neurodivergent adults who long to feel more at ease, truly seen, and understood. Sound like you?
My practice is inclusive of gender, sexual and relationship diversity (GSRD), kink-aware, neurodivergence, sex worker and LGBTQIA affirming.
Are you tired of feeling “too much” and wondering why life feels so heavy? Maybe you often feel anxious, overwhelmed, or like everyone else got a rulebook for life you somehow missed. Friendships and relationships may leave you doubting yourself, replaying every conversation in your head, or wondering if you’re the problem. Perhaps you’ve tried therapy before, but it focused only on coping strategies, without offering the real understanding you needed. I offer a tailored, affirming approach for deeply feeling, anxious, and neurodivergent adults who long to feel more at ease, truly seen, and understood. Sound like you?
Welcome! My name is Ali (she/they) and I am a pluralistic counsellor offering one-to-one counselling for adults.
I believe therapy offers the possibility of creating a deeper and more fulfilling relationship with yourself. This might mean starting to make sense of your experiences and emotions, building your self-compassion, or reconnecting with less familiar parts of yourself.
As a queer therapist, my work is rooted in a neurodiverse and LGBTQIA+ affirming perspective. I am deeply committed to working in a non-pathologising way and I welcome conversations about how you encounter your own identities and experience.
Welcome! My name is Ali (she/they) and I am a pluralistic counsellor offering one-to-one counselling for adults.
I believe therapy offers the possibility of creating a deeper and more fulfilling relationship with yourself. This might mean starting to make sense of your experiences and emotions, building your self-compassion, or reconnecting with less familiar parts of yourself.
As a queer therapist, my work is rooted in a neurodiverse and LGBTQIA+ affirming perspective. I am deeply committed to working in a non-pathologising way and I welcome conversations about how you encounter your own identities and experience.
I specialize in helping parents reconnect with themselves and rediscover a sense of calm and joy. At Reconnect Counselling, I offer tailored counselling and psychotherapy services for individual and couples. Whether you're navigating parenthood, struggling with anxiety or depression, facing relationship issues, or coping with the loss of a miscarriage, I’m here to support you. Together, we can explore your thoughts and emotions, helping you reconnect with the parts of yourself that you may feel have been lost. My approach is grounded in compassion, empowerment, and a belief that change is possible.
I specialize in helping parents reconnect with themselves and rediscover a sense of calm and joy. At Reconnect Counselling, I offer tailored counselling and psychotherapy services for individual and couples. Whether you're navigating parenthood, struggling with anxiety or depression, facing relationship issues, or coping with the loss of a miscarriage, I’m here to support you. Together, we can explore your thoughts and emotions, helping you reconnect with the parts of yourself that you may feel have been lost. My approach is grounded in compassion, empowerment, and a belief that change is possible.
So often our difficulties make us feel stuck, bound in place. We can feel caught in a loop, and not know how to get free. We might even know what to do - but either can't seem to do it or it won't work. And sometimes we don't even know what is making us feel stuck and where to start. Problems with our health, mood, traumatic experiences, changes to our life circumstances like work or living arrangement, relationships, habits- any of these can make us feel stuck.
So often our difficulties make us feel stuck, bound in place. We can feel caught in a loop, and not know how to get free. We might even know what to do - but either can't seem to do it or it won't work. And sometimes we don't even know what is making us feel stuck and where to start. Problems with our health, mood, traumatic experiences, changes to our life circumstances like work or living arrangement, relationships, habits- any of these can make us feel stuck.
I offer pluralistic counselling/psychotherapy through an intersectional feminist lens. I work in a collaborative, non-pathologising way. My services include both open-ended counselling/psychotherapy and time-limited counselling/psychotherapy (12 sessions with an option to renew).
I offer pluralistic counselling/psychotherapy through an intersectional feminist lens. I work in a collaborative, non-pathologising way. My services include both open-ended counselling/psychotherapy and time-limited counselling/psychotherapy (12 sessions with an option to renew).
Hello, I’m Emily, a counsellor based in Edinburgh with a master’s in counselling from the University of Edinburgh and a COSCA-accredited diploma (Feb 2025). I’m also a registered member of the BACP and hold a bachelor’s degree of science in psychology and neuroscience from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (May 2018). I bring a grounded, compassionate presence to my work and a deep respect for the uniqueness of each person’s story.
Hello, I’m Emily, a counsellor based in Edinburgh with a master’s in counselling from the University of Edinburgh and a COSCA-accredited diploma (Feb 2025). I’m also a registered member of the BACP and hold a bachelor’s degree of science in psychology and neuroscience from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (May 2018). I bring a grounded, compassionate presence to my work and a deep respect for the uniqueness of each person’s story.
Sex is more than physical—it’s psychological, emotional, and deeply personal. Let’s explore what that means for you.
Sex is more than physical—it’s psychological, emotional, and deeply personal. Let’s explore what that means for you.
I am an Italian psychologist and psychotherapist based in Edinburgh and Whitburn, Bathgate. Given my training in these two areas, I work with various issues that may afflict you, such as depression, panic attacks, obsessive-compulsive disorders, relationship issues, etc. Also, I use an affirmative approach in my work. This means that I validate and support the needs of people of sexual and gender minorities, promoting the search and the expression of an authentic dimension of themselves and their own identity.
I am an Italian psychologist and psychotherapist based in Edinburgh and Whitburn, Bathgate. Given my training in these two areas, I work with various issues that may afflict you, such as depression, panic attacks, obsessive-compulsive disorders, relationship issues, etc. Also, I use an affirmative approach in my work. This means that I validate and support the needs of people of sexual and gender minorities, promoting the search and the expression of an authentic dimension of themselves and their own identity.
Your decision to do undertake therapy is significant; it marks a moment where you have decided you and your life need to be different, and you are willing to do the work of changing. Whether you have come to this work because things have gone awry in the present, you've always had parts of yourself you wished to change, or because you've realised you need to grow to achieve your goals in the future, I want to offer my presence, space, and care to you. Whatever challenge you are struggling with, I am here to facilitate your process of growth, and to discover with you who you are - and help you become who you want to be.
Your decision to do undertake therapy is significant; it marks a moment where you have decided you and your life need to be different, and you are willing to do the work of changing. Whether you have come to this work because things have gone awry in the present, you've always had parts of yourself you wished to change, or because you've realised you need to grow to achieve your goals in the future, I want to offer my presence, space, and care to you. Whatever challenge you are struggling with, I am here to facilitate your process of growth, and to discover with you who you are - and help you become who you want to be.
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Why might an individual want to see a sex-positive, kink-allied therapist?
A sex-positive or kinky individual may want to see a sex-positive, kink-allied therapist because the client may feel safer and more supported discussing their experiences and challenges. A therapist who identifies as kink-friendly will have experience with clients having diverse sexual preferences and will likely be nonjudgmental and supportive about issues brought to the table. It is important to note that sex-positive, kink-allied individuals may find equal success with therapists who do not have such specialised knowledge and background. The most important factor in the success of therapy is for the client and practitioner to form a strong, trusting bond.
Do therapists have special training to gain expertise in sex-positive, kink-allied treatment?
Generally, no. There are limited training programs and unofficial accreditations that therapists can pursue, but a therapist’s expertise will ultimately come from their previous experience with similar clients, their engagement with organisations that promote sex positivity or kink-allied lifestyles, and the importance they place on safety and cultural sensitivity.
How can individuals recognise a good sex-positive, kink-allied therapist?
An experienced therapist is able to help clients explore their sexual identity and expression and relieve any discomfort or stigma attached to discussing such matters and the client’s overall challenges. A therapist who is sex-positive and kink-allied is able to create an environment that honors a client’s experience and sexual preferences. To recognise a good therapist, clients can simply ask directly about topics and issues important to them and gauge their comfort level and connection with a clinician based on the responses.
Can clients benefit from having a therapist with a focus on sex positivity and alternative sexual lifestyles?
Some individuals may feel most comfortable knowing that the clinician they’re working with has a commitment to creating an atmosphere of sex positivity and has experience with relationship diversity and alternative relationship structures. Working with a sex-positive, kink-allied therapist may help clients respect their own challenges and improve identity-affirming treatment.