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.