About me
Are you feeling anxious, overwhelmed by grief, struggling with the impact of trauma, or finding yourself feeling lost, without a sense of purpose or direction in life?
At times, life can feel confusing, or difficult to make sense of. You might find yourself stuck in patterns, finding it difficult to manage intense emotions or understand why you feel the way you do. carrying the impact of past experiences, or feeling disconnected from yourself or others.
You may be coping with a loss, or noticing how past experiences continue to affect your daily life, relationships, or sense of safety.
I offer a warm, compassionate, and non-judgemental space where you can begin to process what you’re going through at your own pace.
I am a trauma - informed humanistic and integrative therapist, and my approach is client-centred, meaning I work alongside you with empathy and respect, honouring your unique experiences and inner resources. I believe you are the expert in your own life, and therapy is a space where we can gently explore your challenges while supporting your growth and healing.
At the heart of my practice is the belief that healing happens through a safe and supportive relationship, both within the therapeutic space we build together and with yourself. Together, we can begin to understand your experience and develop a greater sense of stability, self-awareness, and resilience.
I also integrate mind-body approaches, such as mindfulness, breath-work, and grounding techniques, supporting nervous system regulation and emotional balance. With a background in healthcare and somatic practices, I bring an understanding of how emotional experiences are held not just in the mind, but also in the body, helping you discover your inner strength and move toward wholeness.
Training, qualifications & experience
Core Qualification
- BSc (Hons) Humanistic & Integrative Counselling & Psychotherapy - Sherwood
- Psychotherapy Training Institute, Nottingham
Further Training & CPD
- Somatic Trauma Therapy Training - Babette Rothschild (ongoing, 2025-2026)
- Domestic Abuse & Bereavement - Treetops Hospice (2025)
- Working with Neurodiversity - UKCN (2024)
- Trauma and the Body - UKCN (2024)
- Suicide Awareness & Mental Health - Harmless / Treetops Hospice (2024)
- Working with Children & Young People (2024)
- Trauma-Informed Practice - Treetops Hospice (2024)
- Attachment Styles and Bereavement - Treetops Hospice (2024)
- Working with Life-Limiting Illness - Treetops Hospice (2024)
- Working Creatively with the Body - Dr David Tune (2024)
- Somatisation of Distress - Janus CPD (2024)
- First Aid Training - St John Ambulance (2025)
- Group Volunteer Training - Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide (2022)
Yoga & Embodied Practice
- Yoga for Kids & Families Teacher Training - Rainbow Kids Yoga (2020)
- 300 Hour Yoga Teacher Training - Yoga Alliance, Bali (2019)
- Yoga Nidra Immersion - Yoga Campus (2019)
- Restorative Yoga Teacher Training - Yoga Campus (2016)
- 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training - Yoga Alliance, UK (2015)
Additional Training
- Safeguarding Training - DCC (2012)
- Advanced Qigong Healing - D. J. Lee (2012)
- Mental Health Awareness - Framework (2009)
Professional Experience
- Volunteer Bereavement Counsellor - Treetops Hospice, Risley, since 2023
Member organisations
BACP is one of the UK’s leading professional bodies for counselling and psychotherapy with around 60,000 members. The Association has several different categories of membership, including Student Member, Individual Member, Registered Member MBACP, Registered Accredited Member MBACP (Accred) and Senior Registered Accredited Member MBACP (Snr Acccred). Registered and accredited members are listed on the BACP Register, which shows that they have demonstrated BACP’s recommended standards for training, proficiency and ethical practice. The BACP Register was the first register of psychological therapists to be accredited by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA). Accredited and senior accredited membership are voluntary categories for members who choose to undertake a rigorous application and assessment process to demonstrate additional standards around practice, training and supervision. Individual members will have completed an appropriate counselling or psychotherapy course and started to practise, but they won’t appear on the BACP Register until they've demonstrated that they meet the standards for registration. Student members are still in the process of completing their training. All members are bound by the BACP Ethical Framework and a Professional Conduct Procedure.
Accredited register membership
The Accredited Register Scheme was set up in 2013 by the Department of Health (DoH) as a way to recognise organisations that hold voluntary registers which meet certain standards. These standards are set by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA).
This therapist has indicated that they belong to an Accredited Register.
Areas of counselling I deal with
Other areas of counselling I deal with
Please visit my website for more information: https://www.alenahawkpsychotherapy.co.uk/
Therapies offered
Photos & videos
Fees
£50.00 per session
Additional information
I offer a free 20–30 minute initial consultation by a video call, where we can explore what’s bringing you to therapy and whether we feel it’s right to work together. There is no pressure, just a chance to ask questions and take a first step.
Following an initial assessment, I will send you an information sheet to complete and a contract to review before we begin ongoing sessions.
Sessions are £50 for a 50-minute therapeutic hour.
Please note that the therapy room in Derby is located on the third floor and is accessed via stairs only, as there is no lift available.
Further information
I have a particular interest in working with grief and bereavement, including complex grief such as loss through suicide. Grief can be deeply personal and at times isolating, and I provide a space where all feelings, whatever they may be, are welcome.
As a humanistic and integrative therapist, I see people as more than their thoughts or behaviours. We are mental, emotional, physical, and, for some, spiritual beings. Healing involves tending to all parts of ourselves and rebuilding a sense of connection within.
Alongside talking therapy, I integrate gentle body-based (somatic) approaches. Our bodies often hold the impact of trauma, stress, and loss in ways that words alone cannot fully reach. You might notice this as tension, anxiety, exhaustion, shallow breathing, or feeling constantly on edge. Even after the original experience has passed, the body can continue to carry these effects.
Where appropriate, I may introduce simple practices such as grounding, breath awareness, or noticing bodily sensations. These techniques can support nervous system regulation, ease emotional overwhelm, and foster a greater sense of safety and connection within yourself.
You may understand why you feel the way you do, yet still feel stuck. Therapy can help bridge that gap, supporting both mind and body to work together in the healing process.
