Alex Orchard BA (Hons), Dip Couns.
About me
Hello and welcome to my page! I am a qualified Counsellor and a Registered Member of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). This is very important to you, as it means that I adhere to their ethical framework, ensuring safe and confidential practice.
Contemplating that initial communication with a counsellor is brave; the fact that you are reading this suggests that you have taken the first steps to making sense of feelings and experiences that are troubling you.
Empathy and acceptance heals us. So I work in a warm, empathic, non-judgemental, empowering and boundaried way. You might feel deep-seated feelings of worthlessness, anxiety or shame. You might wonder why you seem to repeat the same old patterns in life. Or maybe you are at a cross-roads and don’t know where to turn. These are universal emotions that many of us feel. Over time, we build up defenses and avoidances. I believe good counselling is about you getting in touch with who you really are and learning to love and respect yourself.
I offer regular weekly appointments in rooms in Thatcham. Please get in touch if you are currently struggling, need extra support or would like to understand yourself better. I look forward to hearing from you.
How I work:
I am an Integrative Counsellor. I draw from a combination of the Humanistic and Psychodynamic modalities, matching these to my client’s unique needs.
Humanistic counselling accepts you, the client unconditionally, so you can be the best you can be. I aim to help you realize your full potential in a warm, engaging manner.
I also use the Psychodynamic theory to help you get to your core, looking at the impact of your childhood on your adult life, and at unconscious processes that are influencing how you behave now.
As well as my private client work, I volunteer as a counsellor and clinical assessor at a Sexual Abuse Support Centre.
Training, qualifications & experience
- CPTA, Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling - Integrative.
- CPTA, Level 3 Certificate in Counselling Studies.
- CPTA, Level 2 Certificate in Counselling Skills.
Member organisations
British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy
BACP is one of the UK’s largest professional bodies for counselling and psychotherapy. Therapists registered with the Association fall into a number of different membership categories such as Individual Member, Registered Member MBACP and Registered Member MBACP (Accred), each standing for different levels of training and experience. MBACP (Accred) and MBACP (Snr Accred) members have achieved a substantial level of training and experience approved by the Association.
Registered members can be found on the BACP Register, which was the first register to achieve Accredited Voluntary Register status issued by the Professional Standards Authority. Individual Members will have completed an appropriate counselling and/or psychotherapy course and started to practise, but will not appear on the BACP Register until they've progressed to Registered Member MBACP status.
All members are bound by a Code of Ethics & Practice and a Complaints Procedure. Accredited by the Professional Standards Authority.
Accredited register membership
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.
Areas of counselling I deal with
Therapies offered
Fees
£50 per 50 minute session payable by online transfer, cash or cheque. Initial sessions cost £45. I have a few reduced fee slots to those on a low income.
Further information
How to find me:
The counselling room is a short walk from Thatcham Railway station, parking available.
