Dr Sarah Gingell
(CPsychol, MBACP)
Psychotherapist
Counsellor
Chartered Psychologist
About me
As a therapist, I have a positive view of people and their potential. Given the right conditions and support, I believe we can all find our way. I tend to focus primarily on what is happening now - rather than in the past - as that is what we can change; whilst acknowledging that it is, of course, the past that got us to where we are now.
Neuro-scientific and psychological perspectives form a solid under-pinning to the therapy I offer, through key insights and guidance into why we experience the world as we do, and what really works in therapy and what doesn't.
I draw on a wide range of useful ideas and specific tools from the Humanistic therapies and other schools too, most obviously on my Adlerian training (which is broadly psycho-dynamic), and cognitive behavioural approaches. Click on the ‘About Therapy’ tab for more information about the ideas behind my approach.
“Courage doesn’t happen when you have all the answers. It happens when you are ready to face the questions you have been avoiding your whole life.”
― Shannon L. Alder
I've been interested in how people feel, think, remember and react to their world for as long as I can remember. Thirty years ago, this led me to study psychology & neuroscience, leading to doctoral research focusing on memory and
learning (qualifications & professional
memberships here ). I've also always
been drawn to work with people, so
alongside my academic work, I've
had various roles with children, young
people and adults from very diverse
backgrounds, including community development
work with international students, running groups for Muslim teenagers and for vulnerable children, personal development work with young homeless men, and teaching psychology to adult learners. I've also been a Samaritans volunteer.
I now focus primarily on mental health and treatment, and have undertaken further counselling training (information here). I have held rewarding counselling positions at Mind - the national mental health charity, and at Centre 33 - working with school children and young people up to 26. I have a private practice in Edinburgh working from an office in Blackhall in the west of Edinburgh, and at The Whole Works counselling agency in Edinburgh’s beautiful old town.