Providing clients with a safe, relational environment in which they can understand their inner world, make meaning of their pasts, and move forward via a process of healing and integration, BeeSan Psychotherapy and Counselling Services in Edinburgh thrives on empathy and compassion. Recognised as the Psychotherapy Clinic of the Year 2025 – Edinburgh in this programme, we caught up with the company’s own Benedicta “Bennie” Sanio Ala-Oborie for more about its inclusive mental health support. BeeSan Psychotherapy and Counselling Services: A Safe Place to Talk BeeSan is, at its core, a psychodynamic, person-centred, and trauma-informed psychotherapy service provider that offers a space for every client to both reclaim their narrative and reconnect with their true self. At the heart of the company is Bennie, a fully qualified psychotherapist registered with both BACP and COSCA. Bennie and her team work both remotely and from an office near Haymarket Station, delivering their long-term therapy support to clients throughout the UK. Leveraging values such as safety, trust, depth, meaning, understanding, empathy, and presence, BeeSan is able to offer bespoke, individualised care, while recognising that no two journeys are the same and therefore should not be treated as such. As Bennie explained, “Our work is responsive to the strengths, pace, and lived experiences of our individual clients, and considerate of their cultural, social, and personal contexts.” Distinguished as a result of this reflective, human-centric style of therapy, BeeSan is not only set apart by what it does, but also how it does it. For example, its team are always trauma-informed, and their ability to spot the signs and respond accordingly is a crucial component of nurturing growth in every session. Then, there is the detail-oriented nature of this private psychotherapy service, with Bennie and team going above and beyond for each individual client. Because healing from past trauma is not a linear process and can only be achieved with flexibility and collaboration, BeeSan affords its clients healing in a space that is designed especially for them. In this confidential and non-judgmental environment, clients are free to unpack their thoughts, feelings, and emotions, benefiting from a therapeutic relationship that is based on trust and warmth and underpinned by a sense of mutual respect. “If you’re feeling stuck, overwhelmed, disconnected, or unsure of what you need, our one-to-one sessions are designed to meet you where you’re at, and gently guide you towards where you’d like to be.” For Bennie and her small team, the choice to pursue a career in the realm of psychotherapy and counselling was a calling, one brought on by empathy, lived experience, and a belief in the healing power of human connections. Having seen for themselves how trauma (including transgenerational trauma) and societal pressures impact people, especially those in the LGBTQIA+, neurodivergent, and other minority communities, these individuals pledged to devote themselves to both radical change and holistic support. This vow is about much more than helping people to cope with their circumstances, it is about seeing clients rebuilding their emotional resilience. Exploring this further, Bennie told us: “Whether through individual therapy sessions or broader mental health advocacy, we hope to journey alongside folks as they reclaim their stories, rebuild a sense of self, and find meaning on their terms.” Supporting the company as it fulfils this aim is its current transition from a solo practice into an agency model, the intention of which is to create a hub for healing that can be accessed by clients and therapists alike. This is just the beginning of what is a detailed plan for BeeSan’s future, with the company aiming to become a leading trauma-informed mental health agency by increasing access to its services, furthering its impact, and growing a community of aware, attuned, and compassion-driven practitioners. Going forwards, BeeSan is also looking to double down on its fostering of creative, flexible, and accessible therapy options, with these set to prove particularly impactful on those communities long underserved in traditional mental health settings. The company operating online sessions is already a great example of this, with its presence in the digital sphere only set to grow as we move through the rest of 2025 and beyond. In closing, Bennie explained: “Our future rests on community and relationships. At BeeSan Psychotherapy and Counselling Services, we aim not just to be a service, but a home for healing.” Diligently working towards this every day, it is our pleasure to recognise the company’s efforts through a place in this programme. Contact: Benedicta “Bennie” Sanio Ala-Oborie Company: BeeSan Psychotherapy and Counselling Services Web Address: https://www.beesanpsychotherapy.com/ AIM-Apr25133
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