About me
Hello, I'm Alex a fully qualified integrative counsellor, registered with the BACP. I offer in-person sessions in central Ayr and online/ telephone sessions. I enjoy working with adults of all ages and children & young people (10-18).
I have experience working with adults and young people facing various issues including loss, grief, low mood, stress, anxiety, trauma, anger, burnout, ADHD, loneliness, lack of confidence, bullying, low self-esteem, low motivation, feeling lost or stuck, shame, alcohol misuse, family issues, life transitions, menopause, relationship issues, parental issues and more.
With me, I believe it is important that you can come as you are to experience down-to-earth, relaxed and affirming counselling therapy, with or without a diagnosis and with no pressure or expectation.
You will be welcomed to a place where I offer a processing opportunity in a non-clinical, calm environment. I often incorporate creativity, or regulation tools to help you feel more comfortable and reduce anxiety.
In our sessions, we can explore what is affecting you and consider what might help you feel more supported, understood, and able to move forward in a way that feels right for you, fostering resilience and emotional support within a trust based relationship.
How I work, after our initial consultation we will book 6 weekly sessions to explore and work towards your counselling goals. After 6 sessions we will review your experience and discuss your ongoing needs.
Payment can be made with block booking or weekly, with payment required 24 hours prior to the session.
As an integrative counsellor, I work flexibly to find a way of counselling that suits you. This could be a person-centred approach, where I walk alongside you and let you lead in what works best for you. It may be more CBT based, where we look at how your thoughts, emotions and behaviours are linked together. Or lastly we take a Psychodynamic approach looking at how things in childhood are affecting life currently. Sometimes we may combine all three approaches to tailor the support to best suit your needs.
Regardless of the approach used, I aim to offer a safe, confidential and non-judgemental space to explore any issues currently being faced, at a pace that feels comfortable for you. While working together, my aim would be to build a trusting therapeutic relationship, so you are able to feel held in moments of pain as well as moments of joy. I often work over the longer term with clients to support ongoing processing.
I have particular interest with neurodiversity challenges. Working frequently with ADHD, social interactions, sensory sensitivities, executive functioning, emotional regulation, demand avoidance, rejection sensitivity disorder (RSD), overwhelm and burnout. I work with clients to counsel but also to celebrate and respect neurological difference. The core idea is to find strategies that actually align with your natural cognitive style, rather than forcing you to fit into neuro-typical boxes, to find tools to apply to aide daily life or those who support neuro-diverse individuals.
Children and young people's sessions can be done through play based activities, for example: colouring, writing, drawing, Lego or Playdoh. Session times can also be reduced if this will support a child or young person to attend.
If you feel you’d like to begin working together and would like more information, I offer a free 15 minute introduction call.
Training, qualifications & experience
Qualifications and Training
- Higher National Diploma in Counselling
- Higher National Certificate in Counselling
- BACP Certificate of Proficiency
- PDA Counselling Children and Young People (age 10-18)
- PDA in Online and Telephone Counselling
- ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training)
- Trauma-Informed Practitioner Training
- Self-Harm Awareness Training
- First Aid in the Workplace.
I have a professional background supporting those in distress for over 20 years and have worked as a counsellor within addiction support and grief and loss charities before moving to private practice.
I am a PVG (Protection of Vulnerable Groups) registered with Disclosure Scotland.
Member organisations
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.
Areas of counselling I deal with
Photos & videos
Fees
£50.00 - £70.00
Concessions offered for
Additional information
Standard Rate:
- £50-£70.
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I do offer some concession sessions for
low income
students
trainee counsellors
unemployed
This is something that can be discussed during a free 15 minute introductory call.
I have a 48 hour cancellation policy. This means that the full fee is charged if the session is cancelled within 48 hours of your next session.
When I work
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Further information
Other areas of counselling I deal with
- Anxiety
- Mental Health Challenges
- Neurodivergence
- Executive Function
- ADHD
- Family issues
- Relationship Challenges
- Grief and Loss
- Pet loss
- Life transitions
- Menopause and peri-menopause
- Adverse childhood experiences
- Trauma
- Burnout
- Low self esteem and confidence
