Meet Tilly..

Hi there, I’m Tilly and I am one of the placement counsellors at West Lothian Women’s Aid.

I’ve been here nearly a year, seeing women for weekly counselling sessions, so they have the space to talk about their experiences and begin to recover from their experiences in an environment where they can feel safe and understood.

I’m a person-centred therapist, and this just means that the counselling sessions I have with women are entirely on their terms and at their pace. We don’t push anyone to go faster than they feel able, but are ready to be there for whatever they bring, with no judgement and complete acceptance.

Working at Women’s Aid is an extraordinary privilege. I know, working at Women’s Aid, that there is an entire team dedicated to helping women who have experienced domestic abuse, and this means that there is support available for the women I see in any way they may be struggling during their recovery, as well as advice and support with the systems and processes such as the police, the courts and housing. Every week I know I am coming to a place where I know we’re all working towards the same goal of helping women who have experienced gender based violence, and running prevention and education programs to stop the abuse before it begins.

We are so much more than what happens to us and I am so grateful to join women on their journey, to be part of the work they are doing to recover, and to see what a difference both counselling, and the broader work of Women’s Aid, can make to women’s lives. It’s a huge privilege to be trusted with their experiences and feelings, and every woman I have met in the counselling room has been extraordinary. A survivor.

If you’ve experienced abuse and are looking for a place to talk, I hope you find your way to us. And if you do, I look forward to meeting you soon.