I didn't necessa feel the staff had time for me here, it all felt rushed and I struggled to…read moreconnect. maybe after a bit more time it will improve.

Being the 21st century and all, I feel all the cool kids should have a shrink. I always envisaged…read moreshrinks to sound like Woody Allen but speak like Freud. The room would have a velvet chaise-longue, something delivered straight from the early 1900s. Well, this place isn't like this. Not that that's a bad thing. I might have a real identity crisis if I went to see a shrink in a place resembling that of my imagination. The Edinburgh Psychology Centre is full of helpful people. And this isn't obvious. I mean helpful in the sense that they're very willing to answer enquiries about any psychology-related questions that you might need answered. Their website is really thorough as well, and you can have an initial session where someone helps you decide what kind of therapy you might be looking for. It isn't cheap, though. A session ranges between 50 and 65 pounds. If you're feeling way 21st century, or, on the other hand, actually need help, this is a good place to start. They're very accommodating.

This is where I had my therapy after my last relationship fell apart. I had sessions for about…read morethree months, and they guided me through a very difficult period. It was a fascinating process: nonjudgmental, kind and switched on. The counsellor was fiercely intelligent, and gentle, and when I decided to end the process, helped me to a positive conclusion. They are very popular, but usually find a spot for the client within a month or so. The price is about standard for this sort of therapy, which is very orientated to problem solving, without having the CBT obsession with rapid results.

I had an awful, very disturbing experience recently when I arranged a counselling session with Gill…read moreSaunderson from Echo Psychology. At the initial consultation she was a complete no show. After arriving at 'her office' (a rented room?) I was shown into a room to wait for her, and left standing around there by myself for 40 minutes. Eventually, despite leaving answer machine messages and e-mails, she blamed her no show (by e-mail) on not having received a confirmation e-mail, which I duly forwarded to her as proof that it had been sent. She then offered to 'speak about this' and I arranged three separate times for her to phone...still haven't received a phone call! It took a lot for me to take the first step and arrange some counselling, and given that the 'counselling relationship' is supposed to be built on trust and communication I found the whole experience quite insulting, frustrating. and distressing.

Edinburgh's local Scientologists offer up a "free personality test", so in the name of Yelp I…read morethought it would be worth trying out. I failed.

I went into Hubbard Academy with my former partner as he is a scientologist. I found it a bit odd…read morewhen I went to a couple of events. The members all turned to applaud a giant photo of L Ron Hubbard which struck me as peculiar. They also applauded each other for donating money- the bigger the donation, the louder they applauded.They signed me up for a communication course which I didn't really need as I can communicate really well. I then swapped to do a Dianetics course. I got told on one of my answers that I was not to think for myself, just to write what it said in the book, which set alarm bells ringing for me. They then proceeded to hound me with endless phone calls and letters, asking me to buy more books, get a Case Analysis and even asking me to join staff. I got 100 calls one week in February 2012 from Dianetics Centre. A HAPI staff member even called at my house on several occasions, once even opening my front door uninvited- he left some coursework inside the house instead of on the doorstep- that unnerved me. I distinctly remember getting a call on a Wednesday night from Hubbard Academy, pressuring me to buy a book called Science of Survival. When I asked why it was so urgent that I buy it, he told me that the 'stats' had to be in on a Thursday. No concern for what I was interested in- just pressure selling. All this encouraged me to research scientology a bit more and then I found out the truth. I spoke to scores of ex-scientologists who confirmed that my suspicions about it being primarily concerned with pressure selling and mind control techniques were correct. I told my partner I wanted no further involvement. He said I had to write to HAPI and tell them why, or he would end our relationship. I found this really odd too- that I had to answer to this Hubbard Academy of Personal Independence regarding my personal relationship- kind of an invasion of privacy. I wrote a letter of my grievances, showed it to him and sent it. He then acted increasingly hostile to me and disconnected from me. I discovered that if a member is connected to someone who disagrees with or openly criticises scientology, they are forced to disconnect from them - ie shun them. The person who is critical is labelled a Suppressive Person-, which is what happened to me.A thoroughly negative experience. I would exercise caution and educate yourself about scientology before going in- they use covert sales tactics and although the personality test is 'free', nothing after it is. Certainly DO NOT give them personal details- especially phone numbers, e-mail or address- you will be plagued with communication from them.

No contract, no reviews, no goals, no informed consent, no discussions of the limitations of…read moretherapy or its boundaries, would gossip about other clients, would throw out diagnosis without any transparency or treatment plans. Would lie about referring to my GP 'several times' throughout the therapy without any record of that ever happening. Sujarda Jayne Herring advised and normalized an industry to me which is rooted in trauma, exploitation and crime. She advised me to get involved with it as a therapeutic suggestion without acknowledging the wider risk, Sujarda being the immediate authority for my mental health at the time I regrettably followed her advice. After research I criticized Sujarda Herring's advice which resulted in her engaging in psychological abuse tactics such gaslighting, talking down to me, invalidating, encouraging harm, belittling me and abruptly ending the therapy without referral. After the criticism Sujarda resorted to making false allegations about me, then sending the police to my workplace.

I have been for combined therapies including reiki, tapping and counselling and have found the mix…read moreof both talking things through in a very safe space and practical ways of coping such as breathing and tapping have really helped me more than I could have ever really imagined.