My name is Stasa ("Stah-sha") and I'm a counsellor/psychotherapist and group facilitator in Scotland. My pronouns are she/they.
I offer pluralistic counselling/psychotherapy through an intersectional feminist lens. I work in a collaborative, non-pathologising way.
I'm an Accredited Registrant Member of the National Counselling & Psychotherapy Society (MNCPS Acc.), which you can confirm here.
Being an Accredited Registrant Member means I have completed a training programme that meets NCPS standards and allows me to be listed on the Professional Standards Authority's Accredited Register, and that I meet the on-going requirements of the Society for this level of membership each year (client hours, clinical supervision, continuing professional development, etc).
I actually have two diplomas, a Professional Diploma in Psychotherapeutic Counselling Practice (Prof Dip Psy C ) from Chrysalis Not-For-Profit, which meets the criteria for the Register, and a Post-Graduate Diploma in Counselling & Psychotherapy Theory (PGDip) from the University of Edinburgh. I also have a COSCA Post-Graduate Certificate in Counselling Skills (PGCert) from the University of Edinburgh. I have a more recent Certificate in Group Work from Physis Scotland, and a very long-ago undergraduate degree in Psychology, with a minor in Feminist & Gender Studies, from Bryn Mawr College in the United States.
I hope to write more soon about what offering "pluralistic counselling/psychotherapy through an intersectional feminist lens" and working "in a collaborative, non-pathologising way" mean.
Before starting my private practice, I gained experience through placements and volunteering at two different charities in Edinburgh -- Pregnancy Counselling & Care (Scotland) and LGBT Health & Wellbeing -- as well as supervised practice with volunteer clients as part of my training.
My first diploma required 150 placement hours; I continued to volunteer and accrued an additional 175 hours before graduation. I then completed another 100 placement hours on my second diploma, as well as 80 hours of supervised practice with volunteer clients.
I had just over 500 client hours before starting my private practice.
Placements, volunteering, and paid counsellor/psychotherapist work:
Pregnancy Counselling & Care Scotland, 2021-present, 2017-2019
LGBT Health & Wellbeing, 2017-2019
Core training:
Professional Diploma in Psychotherapeutic Counselling Practice (Prof Dip Psy C), Chrysalis Not-For-Profit, 2023 (MNCPS Acc.)
Post-Graduate Diploma in Counselling & Psychotherapy Theory (PGDip), University of Edinburgh, 2019
COSCA Post-Graduate Certificate in Counselling Skills (PGCert), University of Edinburgh, 2016
Additional training:
Certificate in Group Work, Physis Scotland, 2024
I participate in 30 hours or more of on-going CPD each year. I share this list to give you some idea of the kinds of things I'm interested in and what kinds of additional training I choose to pursue.
Minding Autistic Minds (Autistic Mental Health), Ausome Training
Working with Class & Social Position in Therapy, TADF (The Anti-Discrimination Focus)
Abortion Stigma & Mental Health, Religious Community for Reproductive Choice & Exhale Pro-Voice
Developing Therapeutic Understanding of Kink Sexualities, Ruth Heneke Eliot & Rainbow Therapy in Scotland
Understanding Paternal & Partner Mental Health, Fathers Network Scotland & Pregnancy Counselling & Care (Scotland)
Healing Trauma & Restoring Wholeness, the Embody Lab
Access to Work for Therapists, In Collaboration & Rewire Therapy
Anti-Oppressive Practice 101, Ellie Muniandy & Rainbow Therapy in Scotland
Spicy Space: Neurodivergent Communication, Free2bMe
Safeguarding, Pregnancy Counselling & Care (Scotland)
Spicy space: Working as a Neurodivergent Therapist, Free2bMe
A Conversation With Dr. Elinor Greenberg About Narcissism, Borderline, & Schizoid Disorders, Disorderly Conducts
Birth Trauma, Birth Trauma Association
Introduction to Liberation Psychologies, Therapy & Social Change
Autistic Sexuality, AUsome Training
On-going neurodivergent counsellors/therapists support group