Unravelling life's knots, together.
About Emma Mackintosh
I’m Emma – a qualified and registered pluralistic psychotherapist and social worker with more than 22 years of experience supporting individuals, children and families.
My work has taken many forms, but at its heart has always been a deep commitment to listening, connecting, and supporting people through life’s hardest moments. I’ve walked alongside those affected by complex trauma, loss, identity struggles, and systemic injustice – including people with lived experience of care, adoption, institutional abuse, childhood abuse, substance use, neurodiversity and more.
Whether someone comes to therapy for anxiety, grief, relationship issues, or simply a sense of being stuck, I offer a calm, compassionate and collaborative space to explore what’s going on – and what might come next.
A flexible, inclusive and pluralistic approach to counselling and psychotherapy.
As a pluralistic psychotherapist, I don’t believe there’s one “right” way to do therapy. Different people need different things – and even for the same person, that can change over time. That’s why I draw from a range of therapeutic approaches, always adapting our work to suit you, your needs, and your pace.
My training includes:
Person-Centred Therapy – placing your voice, values and experience at the heart of the work
Psychodynamic Therapy – exploring how past relationships and experiences shape the present
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) – identifying and working with patterns of thought and behaviour
Narrative Therapy – honouring your personal story and exploring new meanings (trained through the Vancouver School of Narrative Therapy, Canada)
Collaborative and Dialogic Practices – informed by the Taos Institute, USA
This variety allows me to keep therapy relational, responsive and human – not formulaic or one-size-fits-all.
How I work
I’ll always treat you as the expert in your own life. My role is to walk alongside you, bringing tools, curiosity, and a supportive presence as you explore what matters most to you.
Together, we’ll shape a space that’s confidential, reflective, and grounded in trust – one where you can feel safe enough to pause, think, and reconnect with your own strengths, values and hopes.
Experience and values
Over the years, I’ve supported people across a wide range of settings – from therapeutic farms and mediation services to specialist trauma teams and private practice. My work has often focused on the impact of trauma, particularly in the context of childhood abuse, adoption, and care experience.
I currently offer private psychotherapy and counselling, and I’m also committed to “paying it forward” by providing free weekly therapy through an organisation supporting adults with care and adoption experience.
Qualifications
- Diploma in Pluralistic Psychotherapy and Counselling, Grounded Learning, UK
- Certificate in Collaborative and Dialogic Practices by the Taos Institute, USA
- Narrative Therapy, Vancouver School for Narrative Therapy, Canada
- Post Graduate in Child Protective Studies, Dundee University
- BSc (Honours) Social Work, University of Edinburgh
- Diploma in Social Work, Scottish Social Services Council
- Certified Mediator, Conflict Resolution Institute, California.
Membership
- Accredited registered membership with COSCA (Counselling and Psychotherapy in Scotland)