Alicia Coates

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she/her
MBACP Accredited Counsellor
Available for new clients
Available for new clients

This professional is available for new clients.

Stamford, Lincolnshire, PE9 1PG
Available for new clients
Available for new clients

This professional is available for new clients.

About me

Many of my clients come to me experiencing some form of anxious symptoms.  These might include intrusive thoughts, negative thinking, catastrophising, ruminating or compulsions which might result in you feeling ‘on edge’.  These may be forms of generalised anxiety disorder, social anxiety, health anxiety, stress, work-related stress or panic attacks. Feeling like this can be scary, unhelpful, and immobilising.  I am trained in psycho education to help you understand what is going on in your body, relational therapies such as person centred and TA (Transactional Analysis) to enable us to explore what the triggers may be and CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) to work with you to find ways of changing the way you think so that you can stop avoiding and start living your life.

My experience of working with clients who have been in a relationship with people who display narcissistic tendencies will help you feel understood, validated, and informed about this unhealthy relationship dynamic.  With all the gaslighting, manipulation and stonewalling it can leave you feeling confused about what is real and what isn’t.  I can help you make sense of this, and we can work through how you feel about it.

I also have experience of working with boarding school survivors, relationship challenges and attachment, trauma and low self-esteem/ self-confidence.

If this resonates, I offer a free 20 minute exploratory call for me to understand more about what is going on for you and I can explain how I work in more detail. If we decide I'm not the right Counsellor for you, I can help sign post you to someone better suited.

Training, qualifications & experience

I am an MBACP Accredited Counsellor with experience in the NHS, charity settings and private practise. 

Counselling Qualification: Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling (2015) and first year completion of a Masters in Person Centred Psychotherapy.

I also have a BSC degree in Business Management from the University of Bradford Management Centre (1993) and a Post Graduate Diploma in Human Resource Management from Leeds Met University (1995).

Professional body: Accredited with the BACP since 2019 and a member since 2013.

I have worked in NHS GP Practises in Peterborough and also have experience of working with young vulnerable adults during my time at Axiom Housing.  I currently work as an Associate Counsellor and Trustee for Evolve Counselling alongside my private practise. 

Before becoming a Counsellor, my background was in Human Resources.  I have 20+ years experience of working in large corporates and have an excellent knowledge of employment law and how company procedures such as redundancy, disciplinary and absence management work.  I often use this knowledge in my work with clients who have experienced redundancy, are off long term sick or are at a crossroads in their careers.

I regularly attend additional training courses and CPD (30 + hours per year) to enhance my practise.  

I have been a client too which means I know how it scary it feels to take the first step in finding a Counsellor.  I believe we can all benefit from talking to someone who is completely independent from our lives. 

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

Other areas of counselling I deal with

  • Children of parents or those in relationship with people with narcissistic tendencies.
  • Boarding school survivors

Photos & videos

Fees

£60.00 per session

Concessions offered for

  • Low income
  • Unemployed
  • Refugees

Health Insurance/EAP

  • Aviva
  • Axa Health
  • Vitality

Additional information

How long and frequent are sessions? Counselling sessions are usually 50 minutes and can be weekly, fortnightly or how often you feel it would work well for you.

How much do sessions cost? Sessions cost £60.  If you think a shorter or a longer session would be better for you - let's chat about how that could work and how much it would cost.

How do I get started? Send me an email via the Counselling Directory or visit my website for further information.  Once you have made contact, we can arrange a 20 minute zoom chat or telephone call to explore how we might work together which is free.

Once we have met on zoom or spoken on the telephone, I will send you a confirmation email with all the necessary information to find me easily and to ensure your first session is stress free.

Payment via bank transfer ahead of each session is required to secure your appointment.

EAPs - £65 per session

When I work

Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
Morning
Afternoon
Evening
Night

I work face to face Tuesday to Thursday.  I work on-line or by telephone Monday to Thursday. 

Day and evening appointments available.  My last appointment time is 6pm.

Further information

There is free parking for up to one hour directly outside my room on Broad Street, Stamford and a car park close by on North Street for a longer stay if you needed to pop and do some shopping before or after our appointment.

I also have a:

  • Enhanced DBS check certificate
  • Professional liability insurance
  • Am registered with the Information Commissioner's Office

I operate an equal opportunities policy and do not discriminate against individuals on the basis of age, marital status, physical disability, gender, sexual orientation, race, social origins, political or religious beliefs.

Stamford Consulting Rooms, 12 Broad Street, Stamford, Lincolnshire, PE9 1PG

Type of session

In person
Online
Phone

Types of client

Adults
Older adults
Organisations
Employee Assistance Programme

Key details

DBS check

In England and Wales, the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS, formerly known as CRB) carry out criminal records checks for individuals working with vulnerable groups, such as children. To find out more, visit gov.uk , or contact this professional directly

There are a few steps to enter the building (see photo). We have a buzzer entry system. Once inside, there is one very small step and my room is on the ground floor.

Online platforms

Whatsapp
Zoom
Alicia Coates
Alicia Coates