Ian Nicholson-Kapasi
Hello, I am Ian and the founder of Connections. I am a neurodivergent professional supporting mental health. I decided to set up a practice to help with mental health development, offering in-person services in Edinburgh and online services across Scotland, the UK, and Europe. I have known times when I have needed the very help that I am now here to provide. I offer a supportive and confidential relationship, stepping into your frame of reference and walking beside you in your experiences.
I work with both the Person-Centered approach and Psychodynamic modalities. I am a counsellor on COSCA’s Register that has been accredited by the Professional Standards Authority. This is recognition of my commitment to high standards. Being on an accredited register demonstrates my commitment to high professional standards, enhancing safety and delivering a better service.
Perhaps you are feeling a little stuck, or wrestling with a sense of overwhelm, despair or even shame that you just can’t shake. This is normal and while you might feel isolated and lonely, you are not alone in this. Maybe you are seeking change in life or personal growth in specific areas. No one is perfect and while many of us aim to be, we all have areas where we can develop for the better.
Together we can discuss where you are and where you want to get to. By understanding your thoughts, focusing on your feelings and exploring your past, the work we will do together will help shine lights in areas that might seem out of reach or hidden. This can help to illuminate your pathways, which we will walk side by side. My door is open to you and, should you choose to walk through it, I will be here to help you help yourself.
Appointment times:
Monday: 9:30am, 10:45am, 12:00pm, 2:15pm, 3:30pm
Tuesday: 9:30am, 10:45am, 12:00pm, 2:15pm, 3:30pm
Wednesday: 9:30am, 10:45am, 12:00pm, 2:15pm, 3:30pm
Friday: 9:30am, 10:45am, 12:00pm
£1-50/hr - please see our tiered fee structure
Emily Stokes
She/Her/Hers
Hello, I’m Emily, a counsellor based in Edinburgh with a master’s in counselling from the University of Edinburgh and a COSCA-accredited diploma (Feb 2025). I’m also a registered member of the BACP and hold a bachelor’s degree of science in psychology and neuroscience from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (May 2018). I bring a grounded, compassionate presence to my work and a deep respect for the uniqueness of each person’s story.
My approach integrates person-centred and psychodynamic modalities, offering a space where you can feel truly heard and understood. I believe that, even in times of distress, you hold the wisdom and strength needed to move forward—and my role is to walk alongside you as we make sense of where you are and where you want to go.
I’ve supported clients dealing with anxiety, depression, trauma, loss, and life transitions, both in longer-term work and in time-limited counselling models. My placements at Hope Park Counselling Centre and Midlothian SureStart allowed me to work with people from a range of backgrounds, including young mothers and those facing economic and social barriers to care. These experiences have shaped my belief in the power of a safe, non-judgmental relationship to support healing and growth.
Like many people, I’ve experienced difficult times in my own life—and I know first hand how powerful it can be to have a dedicated space to process, reflect, and just be. My own experience of therapy helped me find clarity and strength when I needed it most, and it continues to shape the care and respect I bring to this work today.
You may be feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or unsure of how to move forward. Whether you're seeking support for something specific or simply sensing that something isn’t quite right, therapy can offer a place to reconnect with yourself and your direction. Our work together might involve exploring past experiences, understanding emotions more deeply, or setting goals for change—always at your
pace, and always led by what feels meaningful to you. If you’re curious about whether we’d be a good fit, I invite you to get in touch. I’d be honoured to support you on your journey.
Tuesday - Sunday
Appointment times: 9:30, 10:45am, 12pm, 2:15pm, 3:30pm, 5:10pm, 6:30pm, 7:50pm
£1 to £50 - please see our tiered fee structure
Jerusha Cargay
Hi there,
My name is Jerusha Cargay, and I am a qualified and registered BACP counsellor based in Edinburgh. I work in a person-centred way, offering a warm, non-judgemental, and inclusive space where you can explore your emotions and thoughts at your own pace. Together, we can gently navigate connection with yourself and the life around you.
You may be feeling lost, struggling with identity, carrying shame or grief, or living with chronic illness. Perhaps you’ve experienced spiritual abuse and are exploring how spirituality connects with your sense of self. Or maybe you’re noticing how your neurodivergence shapes your everyday life and relationships. These are just a few examples—life isn’t clear-cut, and whatever you bring, you are welcome to show up exactly as you are in our sessions.
I believe in inclusive and accessible therapeutic practice, which means recognising that our personal experiences are also shaped by wider systemic issues. If any of this resonates with you, I’d be glad to hear from you and see whether working together feels like the right fit.
I offer therapy in both English and Nepali.
Leo Hagmeier
If you find yourself getting stuck on certain topics, going around in circles in your head, or lying awake at night when the distractions fade and your thoughts take over – you're not alone, and there is a way forward.
As someone who has travelled both literally and metaphorically through life's challenges, I understand the courage it takes to seek support. My own journey from engineering to counselling has taken me from the Netherlands through several countries before settling in Scotland, where I now practice in Edinburgh. Along the way, I've learned multiple languages and, more importantly, learned to speak the language of healing through my own therapeutic experience.
Having walked the path of therapy myself, I know firsthand how it can help break those exhausting cycles of stuck thinking. I've experienced the relief of finally finding a way out of mental loops that once felt inescapable.
I create a therapeutic environment that is safe enough to explore potentially challenging topics, yet challenging enough to allow for genuine growth. Drawing on person-centred and psychodynamic principles, I don't just observe your journey – I come along with you, offering support as you navigate whatever terrain lies ahead.
Whether you're dealing with recurring thoughts that won't quiet, feeling trapped in familiar patterns, or simply seeking deeper understanding of yourself, I'm here to walk alongside you.
Appointment times:
Wednesday: 10:45am to 7:30pm
Thursdays 6:15pm and 7:30pm
Fridays 10:45am to 7:30pm.
£1-50/hr - please see our tiered fee structure
Marcus O'Shea
My name is Marcus O'Shea, a Therapist and Counsellor specialising in ADHD, Neurodiversity, anxiety, depression, and trauma. I offer a warm, empathic, flexible, understanding approach to talk through your issues, along with evidence based tools that are tailored to your unique needs, so we can work with your mind for a happier, more fulfilling life.
I’m educated in a variety of approaches and toolsets, in order to offer counselling and solutions that suit you best. Particular areas of specialty include anxiety, depression, trauma (including PTSD and C-PTSD), ADHD, motivation and burnout, neurodivergent issues, motivation, burnout, low self-esteem, disability, Autism, disability and chronic illness related issues, and LGBT issues.
I work in a collaborative and flexible manner, with understanding my client's stories and experiences as my priority. I believe each client is unique, and seek to establish an empathic, accepting space where you can feel safe to share your feelings and experiences, talk through the issues you’re facing, and find the solution that’s right for you.
From there, I can offer a variety of tools and techniques that can help between sessions to help with issues such as anxiety, mood, habit change, addiction, self-esteem, impulsiveness, and motivation, drawn from the Person-Centred, Somatic, Solutions Focused, CBT, ACT, DBT, and Mindfulness schools of therapy.
I offer a queer friendly, poly friendly, neurodiversity-friendly, and sex-positive space. I also work from a trauma informed and trained basis, which means I am experienced in how to work through and process trauma with clients in a safe manner. I'm one of the only counsellors in the UK trained in Written Exposure Therapy, a leading evidence based trauma treatment
Appointment times:
Online: Sunday-Thursday
In-Person: Wednesday
£1-50/hr - please see our tiered fee structure
Ali Davison
Hello, I’m Ali (she/they), a BACP-registered counsellor.
I work from a pluralistic framework, which means I recognise and value the individuality of your experiences and preferences. I don’t believe there is just one “right” way to do therapy so I draw on different theories and techniques depending on what feels most helpful and meaningful to you.
At the heart of my practice is a person-centred approach. This means I aim to offer an authentic relationship built on empathy, care and respect, where you feel heard and accepted as you are.
I’m particularly drawn to supporting people who know what it is to feel on the outside of things, misunderstood, overlooked, or different in some way. I have worked therapeutically with a diverse range of issues, including relational trauma, self-harm, loss and grief, neurodivergence, and LGBTQIA+ identities and experiences.
I also have experience of supporting people to deal with the impact of sexual assault and abuse. If this is part of your own story, I hope that you will feel safe enough sharing this with me if and when you choose to.
I am deeply committed to working in a non-pathologising way: I understand that the struggles bringing you to therapy are often shaped by wider social and cultural contexts, not just individual factors. My hope is to provide a space where your feelings and experiences can be met with compassion and understood within that broader picture.
Please feel welcome to get in touch if you feel I may be the right fit for you.
Affiliated Counsellors
Please note; all affiliated counsellors work with their own values and systems. For example, they might not offer a no-fee cancellation policy and it is important you understand any differences between them and Connections Core Values.
David Morris Counselling
My name is David and I am a counsellor, based in central Edinburgh.
I practise person-centred and psychodynamic counselling and offer
indoor, online and outdoor therapy options. I have experience working with a diverse range of clients, on issues including anxiety, depression, loneliness, abuse, bereavement, eating disorder, self-harm, trauma and more.
The focus of my work is the therapeutic relationship and in developing a trusting connection by being empathic, authentic, supportive and non-judgemental. Being a counsellor is more than a job to me, it is a passion. To be in the presence of someone discovering and accepting who they are, finding a sense of healing and feeling empowered to achieve their full potential, is also a privilege.
I am based in a new, purpose built, counselling space for in person sessions (available on Monday and Tuesday).
This is a private room with separate waiting area, set within the creative, inclusive hub of the Out of the Blue Drill Hall. I also have online and outdoor availability on Friday and Saturday (full details below).
Out of the Blue Drill Hall
36 Dalmeny Street, Edinburgh, EH6 8RG (about halfway down Leith Walk)
Monday: 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Tuesday: 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Friday: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm (online or walking therapy only)
Saturday: 9:00 am - 12:00 pm (online or walking therapy only)