"It is the client who knows what hurts, what direction to go, what problems are crucial, what experiences have been deeply buried and, therefore, the therapist should rely upon the client for the direction of movement in the therapy process."

Carl Rogers, 1961

Counselling in Stirling

A safe, supportive space to understand what you're going through

There are times in life when things can feel difficult to manage on your own. You may be experiencing anxiety, stress, low mood, relationship difficulties, low confidence, loss, trauma or a significant change in your life. Sometimes you may not even be sure exactly what is wrong—you simply know that things don't feel right.

Counselling can provide a confidential and non-judgemental space to slow things down, make sense of what you're experiencing and explore what you need.

I'm Vicky McLeod, an integrative and pluralistic counsellor based in Stirling, Scotland. I have been supporting clients since 2013, offering counselling both in person in Stirling and online across the UK.

My approach is warm, collaborative and tailored to you. Rather than telling you what you should do, I work alongside you to understand your experiences and help you find your own way forward.

I work in partnership with clients to provide a friendly, confidential and professional service, tailoring sessions to best meet the needs of the individual to make lasting, meaningful change and meet your personal goals.

Taking a person-centred approach which puts clients at the centre, and with empathy and understanding, I offer a safe, confidential space, working within an integrative or pluralistic counselling approach to help gain deeper insights, understand patterns, release unhelpful emotions, and reframe the past, to develop positive tools to move forward confidently in new and empowering ways.

I will take time to answer any questions and ensure I fully understand your issues, needs and therapy goals to help you get the most from your sessions.

peaceful green nature landscape scottish image

An Integrative or Pluralistic Counselling approach combines the best of different approaches and counselling theory to provide the best service to the client. I tailor sessions using Person-Centred, Psychodynamic and Cognitive Behavioural Counselling techniques and theory, which allows a much broader scope to help clients

Person-Centred Counselling

Person Centred Counselling was founded by Carl Rogers in the 1950’s, when he proposed that therapy should focus on the experience of the client, rather than the expertise of the therapist, as such it isn't helpful for a therapist to tell a client what they should do. A client will find their own way forward when the conditions of empathy, acceptance and genuineness are provided by the counsellor in a safe, reflective space to gain new perspectives and tap into internal resources..

Psychodynamic Counselling

This helps us to understand how the past influences the present, and to understand unconscious process of the mind, and the ways we unknowingly try to protect ourselves in sometimes ineffective ways, such as through defence mechanisms like denial or projection.

Cognitive Behavioural Counselling

Helps us to consider where we might have developed limiting beliefs and thought processes that might be holding us back.

What is counselling?

Counselling is a talking therapy that gives you the opportunity to explore your thoughts, feelings, experiences and behaviours in a safe and confidential environment.

You don't need to have everything worked out before you come to counselling. You can bring whatever is troubling you, whether you have a specific problem you want to address or simply feel stuck, overwhelmed or unsure about what you want from life.

Counselling isn't about being given all the answers. It is about having the space to understand yourself, consider different perspectives and develop greater awareness of what may be influencing how you think, feel and respond.

Who can counselling help?

People come to counselling for many different reasons. You might be:

Feeling anxious, overwhelmed or constantly on edge
Experiencing stress or burnout
Struggling with low mood or motivation
Experiencing panic or fear
Finding relationships difficult
Coping with separation, loss or significant life changes
Struggling with confidence, self-esteem, anxiety, stress
Processing difficult or traumatic experiences
Feeling stuck or unsure about what you want
Experiencing difficulties with identity or self-worth
Wanting to understand yourself and your patterns of behaviour better
Simply feeling that you would benefit from having someone independent to talk to

You don't have to wait until things become unbearable before seeking support.

What can counselling help with?

Counselling can help you explore the underlying thoughts, feelings, experiences and patterns that may be contributing to difficulties in your life.

Depending on your individual circumstances, counselling may help you to:

Understand yourself and your emotions more clearly
Develop greater self-awareness
Recognise patterns that may no longer be helpful
Develop healthier ways of coping with difficult emotions
Build confidence and self-esteem
Manage anxiety and stress, fears and phobias
Improve relationships and communication
Process difficult experiences
Develop clearer boundaries
Make decisions with greater confidence
Feel more in control of your life
Identify what you want and need
Make meaningful changes at a pace that feels manageable

The focus of counselling will be different for every person because your reasons for coming to therapy are unique to you.

What type of counselling do you offer?

I work from an integrative and pluralistic approach, primarily grounded in person-centred counselling.

This means I don't believe that one therapeutic approach will work equally well for everyone. Instead, I draw on different therapeutic ideas and techniques according to your individual needs, preferences and goals.

Alongside my person-centred foundation, I may draw upon approaches including CBT and psychodynamic theory, where these are appropriate and helpful.

Person-centred counselling

The relationship between therapist and client is central to my work. I aim to provide a space where you can feel listened to, respected and accepted without judgement.

CBT

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) can help you explore the relationship between your thoughts, feelings and behaviours and identify patterns that may be maintaining difficulties.

Psychodynamic approaches

Psychodynamic ideas can help us explore how previous experiences, relationships and patterns may influence how you feel, think and behave in the present.

We can decide together what is most useful for you rather than following a rigid programme.

What happens in the first counselling session?

The first session is an opportunity for us to get to know each other and begin to understand what has brought you to counselling.

We'll talk about what you're experiencing, what you would like help with and what you hope to get from counselling. I may ask some questions about your circumstances and experiences, but there is no expectation that you tell me everything straight away.

Most importantly, you have the opportunity to decide whether you feel comfortable working with me.

You don't need to prepare anything in advance. Simply come as you are.

How many counselling sessions will I need?

There is no fixed number of sessions that is right for everyone.

Some people benefit from relatively short-term counselling focused on a particular issue, while others prefer longer-term therapy to explore deeper or more longstanding difficulties.

We'll regularly review how things are going and whether counselling is continuing to meet your needs.

My aim is not to keep you in therapy indefinitely. It is to support you towards the changes and understanding you are looking for.

Is counselling confidential?

Confidentiality is an important part of creating a safe therapeutic relationship.

What you discuss in counselling is treated with respect and kept confidential, subject to the professional and ethical limits of confidentiality that will be explained to you at the beginning of our work together.

What does counselling cost?

Counselling sessions are £60 for 50-60 minutes.

I offer a free 15-minute initial consultation, giving you an opportunity to tell me a little about what you're looking for, ask any questions and decide whether counselling with me feels right for you. You can book this from the form on the homepage.

Do you offer online counselling?

Yes. I offer both in-person counselling in Stirling and online counselling across the UK.

Online counselling can be particularly helpful if you prefer the comfort and convenience of your own surroundings, have difficulty travelling, or simply find online sessions easier to fit around work and other commitments.

How do I know whether counselling is right for me?

You don't need to be certain before getting in touch.

If something is affecting your wellbeing, relationships, confidence, work or enjoyment of life, counselling may be worth considering.

You might be wondering:

"Are my problems serious enough?"

"Should I be able to deal with this myself?"

"What if I don't know what to talk about?"

"What if I find it difficult to open up?"

These are all understandable concerns.

You don't need to have the right words or know exactly what you need before you contact me. We can start with where you are now and work things out together.

Why choose Meridian Wellbeing?

Choosing a counsellor is a personal decision. Feeling comfortable with the person you work with is important.

At Meridian Wellbeing, my aim is to provide counselling that is:

Confidential, a private space where you can talk openly.

Non-judgemental, you can explore your thoughts and experiences without fear of criticism.

Collaborative, we work together rather than me telling you what you should do.

Individualised, your therapy is shaped around you rather than following a one-size-fits-all approach.

Compassionate, I aim to create a warm and supportive environment where you can feel heard and understood.