Alexandra Bate
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This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
Hi, I’m Alli,
Welcome, I am an experienced Integrative Counsellor/ Psychotherapist, having worked with a varied client base for over 12 years.
I am also a lecturer in Counselling and Psychotherapy, having had the pleasure of training counsellors both trainees and qualified counsellors, from entry counselling courses; Level 2 to specialised Bsc (Hons) programmes, training areas of specialism within the field.
Within my experience, i have had the pleasure of witnessing many empowering people, explore and process throughout the counselling relationship, creating lasting and powerful changes.
This all comes from the individual themselves and their absolute courage in exploring and moving through, their inner emotions.
You will find that I am genuine, caring and approachable.
My therapy style is warm and interactive. I believe in treating anyone with respect, sensitivity, and compassion. My approach combines humanistic, psychodynamic, cognitive behavioural therapy and creative intervention, where appropriate. I am strongly influenced by a Person Centred way of being and a Jungian approach to exploring more lasting change. I will tailor our work to meet your unique and specific needs.
Mostly, i tend to find that developing a trusting space is paramount, you will feel heard and experience the power of an unconditional and free space, free from any judgement, a space where you can just freely speak without any fear or consequence. Making connections between past relationships and experiences and how they may be currently holding you back will mean liberating from those chains, uncovering unconscious motives is often the key which creates the most change.
I am creative as a counsellor and find that visual interventions, metaphor and very carefully considered questioning can prove to create changes where other modalities may fall short. To integrate the best of the main psychotherapeutic approaches means a freedom to ensure the technique is what you need, giving you choice to decide what you need from counselling and trusting that together we have those tools there to draw upon and you are not alone. You can feel free.
The very act of seeking counselling usually means that you have perhaps found yourself at a point where other steps just don't seem to change how you feel . In reaching out for talking therapy the process of change has already begun. If you are ready to start this journey together, you will be met with a genuine, caring, approachable therapist. I am here to empower and support you through this process, you are not alone on this journey.
I feel very passionately about how effective counselling is and the changes it can bring. You will listen to YOU more, develop positive self esteem and notice your confidence growing. You will start to make choices which come from your true self.
Thank you for reading, I look forward to being with you on this journey.
If you would like to read further, I include some further specific details about my approach and thoughts around anxiety and depression, feel free to read further.
If you would like to get in touch to find out about my approach, share your thoughts, feelings, and fears. Ask any and all questions about what counselling is and isn't and how it can help you, then by all means feel free to email or send a text or give me a call on 07511922531.
There is no such thing a 'silly' question, feel free to ask anything and get a true 'gut' sense of whether working with me feels right for you. Feel free to get in touch to book in your FREE initial consultation.
What does Integrative Counselling mean?
Integrative Counselling is when the therapist is trained in more than one theoretical modality.
This means that Psychotherapy can be tailored to what you need, rather than trying to fit you into 'one single counselling approach.
I am very passionate about the power of using an Integrative approach. To me this way of working succeeds where single modalities can sometimes lack.
The three core modalities which influence my approach and make up my Integrative Training and Qualification are:
- Person Centred/ Humanistic
- Psychodynamic
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
Namely, I am thoroughly trained over 5 years of counselling studies within a Person Centred Approach. This means that my belief is that it is not me, but it is YOU who does hold your answers. Who am I to 'tell' you? I am trained to 'listen'. Listen very carefully to your words, feelings and nuance as you help me to navigate within your world.
You will feel heard.
The creator of this approach says it best himself, in one of his most famous quotes:
“When a person realizes he has been deeply heard, his eyes moisten. I think in some real sense he is weeping for joy. It is as though he were saying, "Thank God, somebody heard me. Someone knows what it's like to be me” Carl. R. Rogers
You will feel heard and have a voice. You will utilise the therapeutic relationship to speak, to have a voice. I will hold you here and you will feel listened to.
I also have 5 years of training in the Psychodynamic Model. This, I feel is extremely useful in the counselling relationship.
I work within both traditional Freudian concepts and Jungian concepts, within awareness of the value of working with our unconscious processes. I do so in a talking therapy manner, in a way which can vary in technique. Some examples of this include;
- Occasional Psychoeducation or sharing ideas with you from theory/concepts which can help to explain the 'why' behind some of the feelings you may be experiencing. Knowing the 'why' can be empowering. I find this can be useful as opposed to a non - responsive therapist.
Much of the time, how I tend to use Psychoanalytical ideas won't feel much different from the Humanistic therapeutic approach. In the sense that you will feel heard.
However, in-depth knowledge of the past influence on the present from a Psychodynamic approach can often help to shift therapy to a place of lasting change where you begin to make connections for repeating issues and where current issues arise from. This newfound awareness can then lead to change.
Have you ever not noticed something until you suddenly look in a mirror? Like sticking your tongue out whilst concentrating?
Once you catch a glimpse of this in a nearby mirror, you're now aware of it the next time you are concentrating.
This awareness of recognising something, now leads to change.
When you notice that you sticking your tongue out, you can adjust it, or you can keep sticking it out and accept it, or even embrace it and choose to do it more often!
The key here is choice.
Whilst we are 'doing' or 'reacting' from a place which is unconscious to us, or trapped in the past patterns of relating or experience, an older place so to speak, we don't necessarily have a choice. Or in other words; You weren't aware that your tongue was popped out, so there wasn't a choice. Now you see it, can look at it, feel it and experience it, you can now choose.
And with that choice comes great freedom. I believe powerful changes can be made if you are ready for the journey. It can be a process, then I will meet you and we will find the real you. It is in there and you can be free of the same patterns and 'stuck-ness' you may be feeling. It's ok not be to ok and to sit with that for a while.
I am creative as a counsellor and find that visual interventions, metaphor and very carefully considered questioning can prove to create changes where other modalities may fall short. Integrating the best of the main psychotherapeutic approaches means the freedom to ensure the technique is what you need, giving you the choice to decide what you need from counselling and trusting that together we have those tools there to draw upon and you are not alone. You can feel free.
I also have 5 years of training in the Cognitive Behavioural Model. I tend to utilise the ideas from this approach as an addition to the Person Centred Approach.
This means that I utilise the key ideas within a listening approach rather than print-outs and 'homework'.
I believe that thoughts can affect feelings and feelings can affect what we do and this cycle can feel very debilitating and draining. I tend to bring in elements of this model depending on the client's needs.
FURTHER READING
DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY AND THE INFLUENCE OF THE PAST ON THE PRESENT.
- DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY
It takes a lot of energy to bury the feelings from past experiences, this repression leads to depression and anxiety, a heavy-ness and feeling of hopelessness and/or a constant feeling of panic and terror that feels so unexplainable. It is possible, within counselling, for those buried emotions to dissipate. A sense of freedom ensues a new energy, leaving you feeling that you can 'live' again. I mean truly live with a bounce in your step.
- THE PAST AND ITS INFLUENCE ON OUR PRESENT
Past experiences can often continue to have a negative effect on us and hold us back, sometimes these emotions can 'leak' out beyond our awareness and affect us in the present, I find that as we take back some power and control through becoming more self-aware, the pain and turmoil which we can often be caught in, naturally subsides and we start to feel better, gain self-confidence, discover who we really are. rather than who others think we should be, or even who we ourselves think we should be.
This turmoil inside of ourselves is so tiring, and exhausting and that often leads to burnout, sadness, anger and/or anxiety, we may withdraw or throw ourselves into work and become stressed, always trying to run from what we feel.
- HOW THERAPEUTIC LISTENING CAN HEAL
I find that through the beauty of being heard, feeling completely safe and becoming aware of how past experiences are still being carried by us emotionally, we can start to become free of these unconscious controls. Start to become who we once were, or who we were always meant to be, before the hurt, in spite of the hurt.
You deserve freedom. Counselling can give you a sense of peacefulness and insight into self which stays with you and lasts. There is no homework! It is a relationship, a safe, insightful journey towards discovering you and finding yourself again.
Wholeheartedly I believe in the power of talking therapy and the changes it can bring when we are free to be our true selves.
You will be greeted with a warm, safe, understanding, confidential environment.
I assure you, that you will feel heard, validated and understood. I do not judge. Your humanness is enough, you are enough.
FURTHER SESSION INFORMATION;
Currently, counselling sessions are offered via:
- Face 2 Face sessions (in person) at Fearnhead Community Centre
- Online face to face platforms (Zoom/Microsoft Teams) or;
- Via telephone (there are mixed thoughts about telephone counselling. However, i believe counselling can work very well and feel very intimate via phone. It can also be useful if you feel particularly anxious about meeting face to face.
Feel free to contact me either by telephone or email to book a session or to book your free initial telephone
07511922531
Training, qualifications & experience
- MSc Psychology (Level 7 - Brunel University London)
- MSc Psychological Trauma (Level 7 - 1 year Chester University)
- BSc Hons Counselling (Level 6 - Staffordshire University)
- Diploma in Teaching in the Lifelong Learning Sector. (DTLLS).
- Preparing to Teach in the Lifelong Learning Sector. (PTLLS).
- Level 4 Diploma Integrative Counselling (Person-Centred, Psychodynamic, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy).
- Level 3 Diploma in Counselling Skills and Theory
- Level 2 Certificate in Counselling Skills
- ASK Suicide Awareness
- Working with Depression
- Working with Narcissism
- Working with Anxiety
- Working with Self Harm
- Pluralistic Counselling
- Managing and Facilitating Group Counselling
- Play-work with young children.
- Cognitive Behavioural Techniques in Counselling
- Mindfulness Techniques in Counselling
- Member - International Association of Neuro linguistic Programming and Coaching (Mindfulness Diploma)
- Member - International Alliance of Holistic Therapies
- MBACP - Registered Member of British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy
Areas of counselling I deal with
Other areas of counselling I deal with
- Trauma
- Relational Trauma
- Relationship Difficulties
- Feeling Mis-Understood/ Alone?
- Family Trauma & Relationships
Therapies offered
Photos & videos
Fees
£50.00 per session
Free initial telephone session
Concessions offered for
Health Insurance/EAP
Additional information
Free Initial consultation. Individuals:
In person /face2 face session: £50 per session - private room within; Fearnhead Community Centre, WA2 0HD
Online session (video face to face online) £45
Telephone Session - per session £40
£70 Couples Session -per session
When I work
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Please contact me in relation to my working hours and session time/day availability to see if we can arrange a time/day to suit, i always aim to accommodate limited schedules where i can.
