Alexander Morriss
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This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
In addition to a specialism in addiction, particularly alcohol, drug and sex and love addictions, I work with many forms of suffering, including anxiety, depression, relationship difficulties, bereavement, and so on. I have a broad training and have worked in a variety of settings including the NHS, Priory Group and charitable sector.
The root of the problem
I believe that we all have a deep need to be understood; the feeling that another human being gets it. For some of us, that feeling is all too rare. Without it, our lives can become deeply unfulfilling, painful and hard, and we can feel let down by others, hurt and alone.
Sometimes we don't even understand for ourselves why things are so difficult. Perhaps we've become trapped by events of the past, or we can’t imagine a new future because the present is so intolerable. Faced with this we try to feel better, turning to ways of being that, although they helped initially perhaps, over time just made things worse.
What to expect from therapy and how I can help
Having trained in an integration of psychoanalytic, humanistic (person-centred) and existential approaches, I can adapt to each individual client's needs, both in the moment and over the course of therapy. I focus on building a strong, trusting relationship with the client, as it is from this place of security that we can safely explore whatever difficulties are present, and seek solutions.
In particular, I specialise in existential psychotherapy, an approach that considers all aspects of a person's life in thinking about their difficulties: their individual history, present experiences and future aspirations, and how all of these influence their thoughts, feelings and behaviours. In short, I work to understand what it’s like to be in your unique situation and how you exist within it, seeking to open up new possibilities for living, with the hope that your life becomes more fulfilling and satisfying.
How the process will be structured
I offer an initial consultation of 50 minutes so we can see whether we might work together successfully. After that, we would agree a mutually suitable, regular time to meet. Although I do work short-term, a willingness to work long-term is essential, as I believe most lasting improvements come about this way.
Training, qualifications & experience
Psychotherapy Professional Memberships
UKCP - Full Clinical Member, Psychotherapist - reg 201116682
BACP - Registered Member MBACP - reg 374253
Psychotherapy Qualifications
Advanced Diploma in Existential Psychotherapy, from Regent's University London;
MA in Psychotherapy and Counselling (Grade: Distinction), from Regent's University London;
Foundation Certificate in Psychotherapy and Counselling, from Regent's University London.
Training modalities
Psychoanalytic, humanistic (including person-centred), and existential psychotherapies. My training is therefore broad, having covered: classical and modern psychoanalysis, attachment-informed therapy, relational approaches, embodiment, phenomenological theory and practice, philosophically-informed approaches including meaning-orientation and cultural situatedness, emotion-focussed work, gestalt, and so on.
Experience and positions held
I have worked with men and women struggling with a range of issues, including: addiction, notably drug, alcohol and sex and love addictions; anxiety; depression; separation and divorce; bereavement, loss and limitation; historic abuse (physical, sexual, emotional) and its legacy; family of origin relational trauma; personality disorders including borderline presentation; difficulties in day to day relationships; work issues; meaninglessness and apathy.
Sep 2021 - present - Regent's University London - Lecturer in Psychotherapy and Counselling
May 2019 - present - Farah Therapy Centre - Psychotherapist and Counsellor - offering individual long- and short-term psychotherapy to adults
April 2018 - present - Priory North London Hospital - Sessional Psychotherapist, working with addicted clients on a long- and short-term basis
April 2018 - present - Psychotherapist in Private Practice - offering individual long- and short-term psychotherapy to adults.
March 2018 - April 2019 - Claremont Project Islington - Psychotherapist - offering long-term existential-phenomenological therapy to adults
November 2015 - January 2018 - NELFT NHS Trust - Psychotherapist - offering long-term psychodynamic psychotherapy to a variety of clients in the Secondary Psychological Service.
Voluntary positions held
Jan 2020 - present - Secretary of the Society for Existential Analysis
Non-psychotherapy related qualifications
BSc (hons) Physics with Astrophysics, from the University of Leeds
Member organisations
Being registered/accredited with a professional body means an individual must have achieved a substantial level of training and experience approved by their member organisation.
The UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) is a leading professional body for the education, training and regulation of psychotherapists and psychotherapeutic counsellors. Its register is accredited by the government's Professional Standards Authority.
As part of its commitment to protect the public, it works to improve access to psychotherapy, to support and disseminate research, to improve standards and to respond effectively to complaints against its members.
UKCP standards cover the range of different psychotherapies. Registration is obtained by training or accrediting with one of its member organisations, or by holding a European Certificate in Psychotherapy. Accredited by the Professional Standards Authority.
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.
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
Meaninglessness, mortality.
Therapies offered
Photos & videos
Fees
£70.00 - £90.00
Concessions offered for
Health Insurance/EAP
Additional information
Individual, 50-minute sessions from £70, with some concessionary rates available.
I am a registered provider with the following health insurers: Aetna, Allianz, Aviva, AXA Health (formerly AXA PPP) and Vitality Health. If possible, please let me know when you enquire if you intend to pay via health insurance.
When I work
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Working hours: Tuesday to Thursday, 10am - 9pm; Friday 10am - 5pm.
Occasionally other limited availability, please enquire.
Further information
Articles written:
- Addiction recovery in lockdown: https://www.farahtherapycentre.co.uk/blog/addiction-recovery-in-lockdown-reflections-on-an-interview-with-ahmed-atalla
- Engaging with Ramadan during the COVID-19 pandemic:
- On the impact of coronavirus COVID-19 and what it can reveal
- Reflections on self-transformation revealed through Scrooge's journey in 'A Christmas Carol'
