Person-Centred Counselling & Psychotherapy
A place to talk without having to pretend. I offer confidential, Person-Centred counselling for adults in Buckie and across Moray, with in-person appointments in Portessie, Elgin and Banff and online counselling throughout the UK.
Local counselling
I am a qualified Person-Centred Counsellor based in Portessie, near Buckie on the Moray coast. I welcome adults from Buckie, Portgordon, Findochty, Cullen and communities throughout Moray. In-person counselling is available in Portessie, Elgin and Banff, alongside online and Walking and Talking appointments.
My approach
My core training is in Person-Centred Counselling and Psychotherapy. That means our work begins with you: your experience, your priorities and what you would like from counselling.
I offer a steady, respectful space where difficult thoughts and feelings can be explored without judgement. I will not tell you who to be or rush you towards a solution.
Areas of focus
Alongside general counselling, I have particular experience and interest in three areas.
My experience includes working alongside neurodiversity charities and community support services, supporting neurodivergent individuals with a wide range of experiences and needs. I also have experience working therapeutically with people with ADHD. This has helped shape a compassionate, person-centred approach that recognises each person as an individual, rather than defining them by a diagnosis or label.
Compassionate, non-judgemental counselling that looks beyond the behaviour to the experiences, relationships and circumstances around it. My experience in this area also includes volunteering with Quarriers and Arrows.
Space to understand communication, connection and the patterns that can develop within families, informed by my qualification in Family Therapy.
About Pete
My name is Peter Dale and I’m a qualified Person‑Centred Counsellor and Psychotherapist. I have spent many years working in roles that support people through some of the most challenging moments in their lives.
More recently, I delivered a Family Therapy programme commissioned by the local authority. At the same time, I have provided one‑to‑one counselling through a local unpaid carers service, supporting people experiencing grief, feeling overwhelmed or simply needing space to breathe.
My past experience also includes supporting individuals through a local drug and alcohol rehabilitation service, helping people explore their relationship with addiction and to consider what change might mean for them. Alongside this, I bring more than eight years of experience working directly with neurodivergent people, particularly people with autism and people with ADHD.
I am a registered COSCA Practitioner Member and fully insured to practise. I aim to offer a warm and accepting space where you can talk openly, feel heard and begin to make sense of whatever you may be facing.
Lecturer in Counselling at UHI
I lecture in counselling and psychotherapy across the Highlands and Moray, teaching modules in Understanding and Working with Addictive Behaviours, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Humanistic Approaches and Psychodynamic Approaches. I also deliver the UHI Moray “Introduction to Counselling” evening course.
Working agreement
Before counselling begins we will agree how we will work together. This overview covers the main points. A full agreement with the arrangements specific to you will be provided before your first session.
Sessions normally last one hour and are available in person in Portessie, Elgin or Banff, online, or as Walking and Talking appointments.
The notice required for cancellations and the arrangements for missed sessions will be clearly agreed before we begin.
What you share is treated with care and respect. The full agreement will explain confidentiality and the limited circumstances in which information may need to be shared.
Personal information and brief counselling records will be handled securely. Further information will be provided in the practice privacy notice.
For online work we will agree a suitable platform and what to do if the connection is interrupted.
I work within COSCA’s professional and ethical standards and make appropriate use of professional supervision.
You can choose to end counselling. Where possible we will discuss this together and allow time for a considered ending.
Appointments & fees
Block-booking discounts are available for bookings of six or more sessions.
In-person and online sessions are £50 for one hour. Walking and Talking sessions are also available; please get in touch to discuss this option. Payment is made in advance to secure your appointment. Details about cancellations and rescheduling will be shared when we arrange your first session.
Ready to get in touch?
For enquiries or to arrange an appointment, you can email contact@petedalecounselling.co.uk, call or text 07526 411754, or send a direct message through my Facebook page. I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.
Please note: This practice is not an emergency or crisis service. If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 999. For urgent mental health support in Scotland, call NHS 24 on 111.
