Ali Bushell
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This professional is currently not accepting new clients at this time.
This professional is currently not accepting new clients at this time.
About me
If you want to book an introductory session please check out my website for access to my up to date calendar - just find a convenient time and email me to request it, I'm happy to help. Based in Aldgate East / Whitechapel / Liverpool Street.
Deciding whether you can work with someone in what can be an intimate and vulnerable relationship like that of the client / therapist is something that needs to be considered and must feel right to you. Having had eight years of therapy myself with several counsellors and psychotherapists I definitely appreciate being apprehensive of contacting someone for the first time, and wanting someone to help me soon. I know what it’s like to be in your shoes.
So what can I say to help put you at ease? What kind of person am I? The easiest way to describe it would be to simply say that I’m a good listener - people feel like they can talk to me, but also that they want to. I’m non-judgemental, curious and interested to know what is happening for my clients and I don’t look to place labels on them or pathologise their behaviour. I’m highly able to understand and connect with the emotions of others, I’m open and transparent in my approach but also able to be analytical about what is happening too.
I also think it’s important for clients to have a space where they can simply be, to express their fears or other feelings they don’t believe can be shown elsewhere. Sometimes people just need to be able to take off whatever mask they feel they need to wear in the world so that they can be seen, accepted and understood. I do my best to make my clients feel comfortable so that when they are challenged it feels like someone trying to help them, not like they are being criticised, judged or attacked.
My approach has been very helpful to previous clients that have dealt with issues such as:
- Addiction
- Trauma
- Negative self belief
- Fear and hopelessness
- Domestic violence
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Anger
- Male identity/issues related to male gender expectations
- Sex and sexuality (exploring who you are, or might be, or coming to understand your identity and what you want)
- Non-traditional relationship types
- Just generally not feeling happy and not knowing why
I’m also experienced in the modality of Internal Family Systems therapy which is particularly useful for individuals with trauma or difficulties from earlier in life that they want to address.
If I seem like someone you would like to work with I’d encourage you to get in touch and have either a free 15 minute zoom consultation, or a trial session to see how we fit. There is no commitment to further sessions - just come and tell me what you want help with and you’ll know if I’m the right person for you.
Training, qualifications & experience
- NVQ level 2 certificate in counselling
- NVQ level 3 certificate in counselling theory and skills
- NVQ level 4 diploma in psychotherapeutic counselling
- NVQ level 6 certificate in clinical supervision
- Volunteer counsellor at Everyman project - a charity to help men dealing with anger and abusive/violent behaviour
- Volunteer counsellor at One Vision - a low-cost counselling service based in Deptford in SE London
- My own private practice in Aldgate - established 2019
- Level 1 certificate in Internal Family Systems therapy by the IFS institute
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
Therapies offered
Fees
£75.00 - £120.00
Concessions offered for
Additional information
Initial telephone / video consultation - 15 minutes - free
For hourly sessions I offer a sliding scale between £75 and £120 an hour. In our consultation I’ll discuss your financial circumstances and we will agree the price that fits you within my scale.
£ Your rate x 1.5 / 90 minutes
£50 / 60 minutes - for men under 30 I provide a reduced rate service for those on a lower / no income. This is my attempt to provide outreach with my specialist experience to younger men who may be looking for help and guidance and cannot afford my full fee. Please let me know in your contact email if you want to request this reduced rate and be aware that I only have a certain number of slots I can offer at this reduced rate at any one time.
£50 / 60 minutes - for student therapists who are looking for a process as part of their course I am able to provide your mandatory therapy hours at a reduced rate. This requires proof of your studies and the reduced rate ends when we complete the mandatory hours. You are welcome to continue with me past this point at my usual rate if you would like.
When I work
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Further information
If you are interested in hearing more about my perspective as a healer please feel free to try my podcast, the Healer's Guild which can be found on Spotify.
https://open.spotify.com/show/578JBbvexF6BOpkpuUSTKY?si=d1abaf3959ea4cf8
