Reconnect with Yourself and Others Through Therapy

At Quiet Kin Counselling, my mission is to provide a safe and nurturing environment for emotional growth through our counselling services. I believe in the transformative power of connection, both with ourselves and our equine partners, as a form of psychotherapy.

Individual Therapy and Couples Counselling 

At Quiet Kin Counselling I offer comprehensive counselling services that include Individual and Couples Counselling in person in Stirling, as well as online therapy. This approach fosters emotional growth and supports effective psychotherapy.

Equine Assisted Psychotherapy 

For those who prefer an alternative approach, I offer Equine Assisted Psychotherapy in Strathyre, Stirling

You may be coming to counselling feeling overwhelmed, disconnected, or unsure why things feel the way they do. Individual counselling and psychotherapy offers a confidential, supportive space to slow down and explore what is happening for you, at a pace that feels manageable and respectful.

I offer adult individual counselling grounded in warmth, curiosity, and relationship. Therapy is not about fixing you, but about understanding your experiences and the patterns that may be shaping how you think, feel, and respond in the present.

I work with adults experiencing a range of difficulties, including:

• Anxiety, stress, and feeling constantly on edge
• Low mood, emotional numbness, or loss of direction
• The impact of trauma or difficult past experiences
• Relationship and attachment difficulties
• Life transitions, identity questions, or burnout
• Neurodivergent adults seeking a thoughtful, attuned therapeutic space

You don’t need to have everything figured out before starting therapy. We can begin wherever you are.

My work is grounded in Transactional Analysis (TA), a relational approach that helps us understand how early experiences shape the ways we relate to ourselves and others. Together, we explore patterns that may have once been protective but are no longer serving you.

Therapy is collaborative and responsive. I pay attention not only to thoughts and emotions, but also to what is happening in the body and within our therapeutic relationship. Sessions are paced carefully, with an emphasis on safety, choice, and trust.

I aim to offer a calm, compassionate space where you can explore your experiences without judgement and develop greater self-understanding and self-compassion.

• Sessions are 50 minutes
• Available in person in Stirling and online
• Open to adults aged 18+
• Sessions are usually weekly at the same time. 
• Fee - £60 Per session, current availability on a Monday and Wednesday,  I do offer 2 spaces each week at a reduced fee and can be discussed when you get in touch
• I work ethically and confidentially in line with professional standards

I offer adult individual counselling and psychotherapy in Stirling, as well as online sessions for those who prefer remote therapy or are based further afield. Online work offers the same level of care and confidentiality as in-person sessions.

Reaching out for counselling can feel daunting, especially if you’re not sure what you need yet. If you’re considering individual therapy, you’re welcome to get in touch to ask questions or arrange a free initial conversation to see if we might work well together.

Relationships can feel deeply rewarding — and at times, painfully difficult. Couples often seek counselling when communication has broken down, conflict feels stuck, or distance has grown between them. Couples counselling offers a space to slow things down and understand what is happening between you, rather than placing blame on either partner.

I offer couples counselling in Stirling, providing a calm, supportive space where both partners can feel heard and understood.

Couples counselling may be helpful if you are experiencing:

• Repeated conflict or feeling stuck in the same patterns
• Difficulties with communication or feeling misunderstood
• Emotional distance, disconnection, or loss of intimacy
• Trust issues, jealousy, or breaches of trust
• Navigating life changes, stress, or transitions together
• Wanting to strengthen your relationship, not only repair it

You don’t need to be in crisis to benefit from couples therapy. Many couples come to develop a deeper understanding of one another and their relationship.

My work with couples is informed by The Couples Institute Developmental Model, which views relationship difficulties as part of predictable stages of growth rather than signs of failure.

This approach helps couples to:

• Understand recurring patterns and cycles of conflict
• Explore how individual histories and attachment needs shape the relationship
• Develop greater empathy for one another’s experiences
• Build skills for communication, repair, and emotional connection

Therapy is collaborative and balanced. I work to ensure that both partners feel equally supported, while gently guiding the process to help the relationship feel safer, more connected, and more resilient.

Couples counselling is not about taking sides or deciding who is right or wrong. Instead, we work together to:

• Increase awareness of how patterns develop between you
• Strengthen emotional safety and trust
• Improve communication and conflict repair
• Support growth, change, and deeper intimacy over time

Sessions are paced carefully, with respect for each partner and the relationship as a whole.

• Sessions are 90 minutes
• Offered in person in Stirling
• Open to couples in all types of relationships
• Sessions are usually weekly or fortnightly
• Fee - £90.00 per session,  current availability on a Wednesday  in Stirling. 
• I work ethically and confidentially in line with professional standards

I offer couples counselling in Stirling for partners seeking support with their relationship. Working in person allows space to attend carefully to communication, emotional cues, and relational dynamics within the room.

Reaching out for couples counselling can feel like a big step, especially if things feel uncertain or fragile. If you’re considering couples therapy, you’re welcome to get in touch to ask questions or arrange an initial conversation to explore whether this feels like the right support for you both.

Equine Assisted Psychotherapy is a therapeutic approach that brings together relational psychotherapy and the presence of horses in a natural outdoor setting. The work is experiential and ground-based, meaning there is no riding involved. Instead, therapy unfolds through observation, movement, and interaction alongside the horses.

Horses are highly sensitive to their environment and to those around them. They respond honestly and in the moment, offering feedback that can support awareness, emotional regulation, and insight. The therapy focuses on noticing what is happening within you, within the relational space, and in response to the horses, rather than on performance or outcomes.

No previous experience with horses is needed, and sessions are guided carefully at a pace that feels safe and respectful.

My work is grounded in Transactional Analysis and relational psychotherapy, and I work gently alongside the horses, who guide us in our work together through their presence and responses.

The horses are not used as tools or interventions. They are sentient beings who participate in the therapeutic process in their own way, offering opportunities to explore boundaries, connection, trust, and regulation. I pay close attention to consent, choice, and emotional and physical safety throughout our work.

Sessions are collaborative and responsive, allowing space for curiosity, reflection, and meaning-making to emerge naturally. You are always invited to engage in ways that feel right for you, with no pressure to interact beyond your comfort.

I offer Equine Assisted Psychotherapy to both individuals and couples who are seeking a more experiential and relational way of working.

This approach may be particularly supportive for those who:

• Feel overwhelmed or dysregulated in traditional talking therapy
• Are working with anxiety, trauma, or the impact of past experiences
• Struggle to stay connected to their emotions or bodily sensations
• Find it easier to process experiences through movement, presence, or observation
• Want to explore boundaries, trust, or relationships in a relational and embodied way
• Are neurodivergent and seeking a therapy approach that is flexible and responsive

No previous experience with horses is needed. Sessions are guided gently, with attention to consent, choice, and both emotional and physical safety.

I’m Arlene, the person behind Quiet Kin.

I offer therapy in a way that is gentle, grounded, and relational, shaped by my belief that healing happens best in safe, attuned connection. I’m curious about how our early experiences continue to show up in our lives and relationships, and I work with care and compassion to help make sense of those patterns together.

I hold a Diploma in Transactional Analysis Counselling alongside a Diploma in Equine Facilitated Learning and Development. This dual qualification allows me to work both in the therapy room and alongside horses, offering different ways to explore emotional and relational experiences. I’ve also completed further training to support my couples work, which sits closely alongside my TA background.

I work with individuals and couples, including neurodivergent clients and relationships where differences in communication, emotional processing, or sensory needs can feel challenging. I’m especially mindful of slowing things down, reducing pressure, and creating space where things don’t need to be “fixed” to be understood.

Alongside my counselling work, I offer equine assisted psychotherapy in Strathyre. Horses have been part of my life for as long as I can remember, and their quiet presence brings something unique to therapeutic work — helping us notice what we carry, how we relate, and where we might soften.

I hold professional memberships with COSCA, UKATA, and UKCP, reflecting my level of training and practice, and my ongoing commitment to ethical and professional standards.

My approach is deeply informed by my own experience of therapy, late-diagnosed neurodivergence, and a lifelong relationship with horses and the healing they offer. These experiences shape how I listen, how I pace the work, and how I meet people with warmth and respect.

At Quiet Kin, you’ll find a calm, non-judgemental space where you can arrive as you are. My aim is to support you in finding steadiness and connection — with yourself, with others, and with the world around you.

Khal is a gentle Traditional Cob with a sweet but sensitive soul, embodying the essence of emotional growth in our counselling services. He brings a quiet strength to our sessions, offering calm companionship and heartfelt presence. Sensitive to the unspoken, Khal helps clients feel seen, grounded, and safe, which is essential in psychotherapy. He reminds us daily of the healing power of connection.

Harley is the smallest member of the team; he is a 16-year-old Shetland pony with a big personality. What he lacks in stature, he more than makes up for in spirit. Full of curiosity and playfulness, Harley brings a spark of joy to our counselling services, inviting us to reconnect with spontaneity, play, and authentic emotion. Through his presence, he reminds us that emotional growth and healing can be light-hearted too, even in the context of psychotherapy.

Finn is our young Grand Basset Griffon Vendeen, a breed affectionately referred to as the "happy dog" due to his joyful nature. Finn adores people and is currently training to become a therapy dog, aiming to support clients in counselling services on their journey by offering calm, comfort, and connection. Dogs in therapy can provide emotional comfort, aid in reducing anxiety, and foster emotional growth by helping clients build trust and connection. We are hopeful that Finn will be ready to assist clients in psychotherapy in the near future.

Ted is Khals full brother, and we are excited to welcome him to the team very soon, as we believe his presence will enhance our counselling services and contribute to the emotional growth of our clients through psychotherapy.