Hello...

I’m Rachel Raynor (MA Integrative Psychotherapy, BACP-registered), an integrative psychotherapist with more than 15 years’ post-qualification experience and over 8,000 hours of client work. I run Buttercross Counselling, my private practice based in Tong near Stornoway, offering therapy in person, online, by phone, and via message.

My background spans the public sector, NHS mental health services, community work, and private practice. Before qualifying as a psychotherapist, I completed a BA in Social Policy and worked in the Probation Service and NHS, supporting adults with complex mental health needs in both 1:1 and group settings. I later completed a four-year Masters in Integrative Psychotherapy, which involved extensive clinical placements, close supervision, and over 200 hours of personal therapy to ensure my own foundations were solid before supporting others.

Therapy with me...

I work integratively, which means I draw from a range of therapeutic models—relational, humanistic, psychodynamic, compassion-focused, trauma-informed, and body-oriented approaches—tailoring the way I work to the person sitting with me rather than expecting clients to fit a rigid therapeutic model.

At the heart of my practice is a relational approach: therapy works not because of a shiny technique or quick fix, but because of the connection between therapist and client. Safety, trust, and genuine human warmth create the conditions where change becomes possible. My role is to ensure you feel heard, affectively held, and seen, while also offering gentle challenge, perspective, and emotional regulation support when helpful.
Trauma-Informed and Nervous-System Aware
My practice is grounded in trauma-informed principles. I understand how trauma affects the body and nervous system and how survival strategies can shape emotions, thoughts, and relationships long after the original events.

Experience

Clients often describe me as warm, steady, down-to-earth, and gently challenging. Therapy with me is collaborative—we figure things out together. I don’t sit in silence waiting for you to fill the space, and I won’t nod vaguely for an hour either. I’m engaged, present, and responsive.

My style blends reflection, curiosity, humour where appropriate, and compassionate honesty. I pay close attention to how you speak about yourself, how you move through the world, and how your nervous system responds to stress, pressure, or emotional experiences. We explore the patterns that keep you stuck and the possibilities for doing things differently—with more self-compassion, more safety, and more authenticity.

Areas of Expertise

Neurodivergence-Affirming and Autistic-Informed

I work extensively with autistic and ADHD clients, and I take a neurodivergence-affirming stance. This means:

I do not view autism or ADHD as disorders to fix

I respect sensory needs, communication styles, and processing differences

I tailor sessions to offer clearer structure when needed

I support clients in exploring identity, burnout, masking, relationships, work, and self-acceptance

I take care to adapt the environment, rhythm, and structure of therapy to suit their needs rather than expecting them to conform to neurotypical norms.

Sex-Positive and Shame-Reducing

I work with clients around sexuality, sexual wellbeing, intimacy, kink, relational patterns, and shame. I hold a completely non-judgmental, sex-positive position.

If you need a specialist, I am able to offer therapy to people who are affected by Neurodivergence

Qualifications

MA Integrative Psychotherapy

Approaches Offered

I am trained in

• Integrative
• TA
• Psychodynamic

Professional memberships

I am a member of the following regulatory bodies:

• British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP)

Cancellation Policy

Please provide 48 hours notice of any changes to appointments to be eligible for a refund.