Alexandra Cotton

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BA (Hons), MBACP (Accred)
Available for new clients
Available for new clients

This professional is available for new clients.

Blandford Forum, Dorset, DT11 8EF
Available for new clients
Available for new clients

This professional is available for new clients.

About me

I am a psychodynamic counsellor and work with individuals and couples, teenagers and adults. Counselling is about looking at oneself from a new perspective. Exploring your feelings and behaviour with the help and impartiality of a professional counsellor can enable you to make sense of issues and problems which may feel unbearable and often paralysing. By understanding yourself better, you can begin to move forward in life.

I offer an initial assessment session where we can talk about why you feel you may like some counselling, and decide whether working together may be helpful to you.

Psychodynamic counselling means understanding what is troubling you both consciously and unconsciously. It involves exploring your early relationships and understanding how they connect with difficulties you may be having with people in your current life, especially partners, parents, children, siblings and work colleagues.

Areas in which I have particular expertise include:

  • Depression
  • Abuse
  • Sexuality
  • Relationship problems

Training, qualifications & experience

I began my training by gaining a Certificate in Counselling Skills and Attitudes from the Westminster Pastoral Foundation in London. I qualified as a psychodynamic counsellor in 1998 from the Manor House Centre for Counselling and Psychotherapy, London, a BACP accredited course. 

I worked in a GP surgery for three years and then as a student counsellor at the University of North London followed by the University of Winchester. I worked at Compass Counselling in Lymington for seven years before setting up in private practice from home in North Dorset.

Member organisations

Registered / Accredited

Registered / Accredited

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.

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

Fees

£45.00 per session

Concessions offered for

  • Low income

Additional information

Assessments are charged at £45 for individuals and £70 for couples.
Further counselling sessions are £45 for individuals and £70 for couples. I have a small number of lower fee places, which I am happy to discuss if you would like to get in touch.





































When I work

Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
Morning
Afternoon
Evening
Night

Child Okeford, Blandford Forum, Dorset, DT11 8EF

Type of session

In person
Online
Phone

Types of client

Young people
Adults
Older adults
Couples
Employee Assistance Programme

Key details

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.

Alexandra Cotton
Alexandra Cotton