Alex Lloyd

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MBACP Counsellor and Family/Relationship Practitioner
Available for new clients
Available for new clients

This professional is available for new clients.

Aberystwyth, Sir Ceredigion, SY23
Available for new clients
Available for new clients

This professional is available for new clients.

About me

Hi, my name is Alex and I am a qualified Counsellor and a registered member of the BACP.  I have worked for a number of national and local charities  and I now work privately offering face to face, telephone and online sessions. I offer counselling to individuals, couples and families. I have a lot of experience working with parents/carers and young people as well as working with people on a one to one basis. 

So what can I tell you about counselling? I have outlined some possible questions below which you may be asking yourself prior to making contact.

What can I expect?

  • Counselling provides a safe and confidential space to explore issues which may be impacting on you within your life.
  • Each Counsellor's approach will be different but ultimately the focus is on you and the changes you would like to make or the issues you want to explore.
  • The aim is for the counselling to be useful in order for you to benefit in your everyday life.
  • I may use different approaches and techniques depending on what works best for you.
  • We will regularly review the counselling to ensure that it is benefiting you.

What can I tell you about me and the way I work?

I believe wholeheartedly in counselling and have seen it work for so many people. I think people have such strength which they may not realise. Life does not always go to plan and sometimes the most resilient of us can find ourselves not coping or feeling unhappy or overwhelmed.

I have a wealth of experience in working with both adults and young people and I will use this to support you to find the solutions that work for you in your life. I understand how difficult it is to ask for help and to feel things are out of control. Whilst making the first step to contact a counsellor may feel frightening, I want to reassure you that this is completely normal and that it is ok to feel this way.

I am a proactive counsellor, listening is an important part of this but not the only part. People generally come to counselling when they want something to change, I will work with you to figure out what this is and to find a way forward that works for you.

Do I need Counselling? Here are a few areas that are often brought to counselling. Maybe one or more of these relate to you?

Anxiety - A feeling that something bad is going to happen; excessive worrying; agitation; frustration; fear; anger; holding back or avoiding things in life; feelings of dread; panic attacks.

Depression - Prolonged low mood, lack of joy in life; little engagement in activities; low motivation; loss of purpose; poor self-care, sometimes a sense of not knowing why there is a lack of happiness or joy, numbness, suicidal thoughts and feelings.

Family Relationship Issues - This may include conflict, difficulty with parenting issues, relationship breakdown and anxiety about family members including children.

Bereavement/Loss - A deep sadness and prolonged sense of loss. A sense that you can not move on.  Feelings of being overwhelmed by sadness, guilt and anger are all common reactions.

Trauma and or abuse - This may be past or present but can leave people feeling "stuck".  Feelings about Abuse and Trauma can be just as strong years later and leave the person with low self-worth.

This list is not exhaustive, whatever is bothering you (even if you are not sure where to begin) your experience is important.

What does counselling involve?

I will explain counselling and how I work in an initial consultation session and provide you with a simple written summary of what has been agreed for your reference.  Counselling sessions are between 50 minutes and an hour long.

Support and Advocacy for Neuro- Divergent Families

As a counsellor I welcome those who identify as neuro divergent, both diagnosed and undiagnosed. As well as offering counselling, I am able to offer support and advocacy to individuals/parents/carers and families who may identify as autistic/adhd/pda/ or other identifications. I am the parent of an Autisitc/PDA child and I understand some of the challenges faced within mainstream settings on both a personal and professional level. I support the voices of neuro divergent families.

What to do next?

I would love to hear from you, please do get in contact either by phone on 07581 445716 or by email just here

Training, qualifications & experience

Qualifications

  • Bachelor of Philosophy in Education (B phil Ed) - Youth and Community Studies
  • Certificate in Counselling (Cert)
  • Diploma of Higher Education - Counselling (Dip HE)
  • Advanced Diploma in Systemic Thinking and Practice.
  • Certificate of Completion- Intermediate Training in Systemic Practice.

Training

  • Safeguarding - Children and Young People (up to date)
  • Safeguarding - Vulnerable Adults (up to date)
  • Working with Anxiety
  • Working with Endings
  • Substance Misuse
  • Working through Shame and Guilt
  • Creative Writing in Therapy
  • Inner Child
  • Certificate in Dialectical Behaviour Therapy
  • Attachment
  • Introduction to Systemic Practice
  • Use of Art In Therapy
  • Expressive Therapies
  • Mindfulness

I am trained as an  Integrative Counsellor and studied at Birmingham University from 2000- 2003.

Prior to this, I worked within the NHS developing support services for children and young people experiencing mental and emotional health issues.

I then went on to work with children and families within my role as a Youth and Community Worker and developed a wider interest in working with both children and adults.

I have worked for two national charities. I have also worked for the Local Authority and the NHS.

Along with my counselling work with adults, I have specialised in working with Parents and Carers and their children, looking more specifically at relationships within the family.

I have worked with many parents/carers, children and young people who identify as autistic or as PDA (pathological demand avoidance) and my experience as both a parent and a counsellor enables me to support those families who often feel let down by current systems or who may feel lost, to begin to find hope again. 

I have been trained in a variety of theories and approaches which I draw upon depending on what I feel will be most useful for the person I am working with, this may change at different times as the counselling progresses.

Member organisations

BACP
British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy (BACP)

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

British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy
Accredited Register Scheme

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.

British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy

Other areas of counselling I deal with

Specialist Counselling for Parents and Carers and young people exploring family relationship difficulties.

Fees

£50.00 per session

Concessions offered for

  • Low income
  • Keyworkers
  • OAPs
  • Students
  • Trainee counsellors
  • Unemployed

Additional information

Fees are £50.00 per session for individuals and £70.00 for couples and families.

Concessionary rates available for those who are unemployed or on low income and can be discussed on a case by case basis. I am keen to ensure counselling is something which is accessible to those who need it so please discuss this with me.

What to do next?

I would love to hear from you, please do get in contact either by phone on 07581 445716 or by email just here  

When I work

Monday to Friday a combination of in person sessions or telephone/zoom appointments.

Further information

Telephone and Online Counselling available.

Registered Member (MBACP)  of BACP (British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy)

Member of AFT (Association for Family Therapy and Systemic Practice)

Full Enhanced DBS check

Insurance - Towergate

Aberystwyth, Sir Ceredigion, SY23

Type of session

In person
Online
Phone

Types of client

Children
Young people
Adults
Older adults
Couples
Families
Groups
Organisations

Key details

DBS check

In England and Wales, the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS, formerly known as CRB) carry out criminal records checks for individuals working with vulnerable groups, such as children. To find out more, visit gov.uk , or contact this professional directly

Wheelchair user access
Wheelchair user access

Wheelchair-accessible premises should have step-free access for wheelchair users and individuals who are unable to climb stairs. If a Counsellor's premises aren't step-free, they may offer alternative services such as telephone/web-based appointments, home visits, or meeting clients in different location, so you can choose the option that suits you best.

You can contact the Counsellor to discuss the options available.

Under the Equality Act 2010 service providers have a duty to make reasonable adjustments to ensure that individuals with disabilities can access their service. You can read more about reasonable adjustments to help you to access services on the CAB website.

I am committed to both offering and developing a counselling service which is inclusive and respectful of difference including race, gender, religious beliefs, gender identity, sexual orientation and those with differing abilities.

Online platforms

Zoom
Alex Lloyd
Alex Lloyd