Alex Archer, Registered MBACP, Dip.Couns, Therapeutic Counsellor.

Training, qualifications & experience

Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling

Level 3 Advanced Certificate in Counselling

Level 2 Certificate in Counselling skills

ASSIST suicide intervention Training

Mental Health First Aid Course

I have held various supportive roles with adults with multiple and complex needs such as homelessness and rough sleeping, addiction and mental health issues.

Other areas of counselling I deal with

• Men's issues
• Counselling for men,
• Overcoming stage fright .

Further information

Counselling for Men

I counsel women and men. Its widely recognised that women are better at discussing their problems and getting help and support when they need it. Anecdotally, I get more enquiries from women looking for counselling. Additionally, I occasionally get a call from a mum worried about her son, or a woman concerned for her partner.

It's a good thing that women are more proactive in getting the help they need. If only men could do the same! With suicide being the main cause of death for men under the age of 50 in the UK, I wanted to highlight that part of my practice is dedicated to supporting men's mental health and emotional well-being. If men have an outlet to discuss their feelings earlier, it stands to reason that less men would get to the point where they would feel suicidal. Research shows that early intervention and support for anyone facing mental health issues is often most beneficial.

One of the attitudes I grew up with was something like 'If the car is on the blink you go and get it fixed. But if your on the blink, you man up, don't talk about and don't get yourself fixed'.

I can think of many men who have dedicated years of their life to mastering additional skills, gaining extra qualifications, consistently putting in extra hours at work 'to make life better'. At the same time they may have been living with some very painful experiences, emotions and feelings swept under the carpet and not dealt with. I used to live like that myself. My own experience of counselling changed things for the better. I was enabled to better understand, process and let go of the stuff I had swept under the carpet.

I believe its in many men's nature to solve problems - to fix things. Many men may have an a belief something like : 'I should be able to solve the problem. If I can I am a capable man'. This belief can sit comfortably with us when we have problems we can fix. However, its likely for most of us that at some point in our lives we will encounter a problem or situation that we cannot resolve on our own. That's when we can get stuck. This has happened to me in the past. As I write this I realise that I am better at seeking help than I used to be, but it is still uncomfortable to admit that some times I can't figure out all of life's problems on my own. Perhaps this is why it often takes men longer to recognise they are living with a problem they can't sort out on their own, and possibly that it may become serious before they seek support.

Whether you are a woman or a man I'm here to help. As mentioned above I welcome an initial phone call. This first step may put you more at ease about getting the counselling help you need. If I didn't think I could help you, I would look to signpost you onwards.