Alicia McDermott
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This professional is accepting new clients but may have a waitlist. Please enquire with them directly to discuss availability.
This professional is accepting new clients but may have a waitlist. Please enquire with them directly to discuss availability.
About me
I am an Individual and Couples Counsellor and I work on-line. I also have experience in Parent Coaching.
Individual counselling
As an Accredited Therapist (MBACP) I will encourage you to develop a clear and unique perspective on the areas of your life that you bring to our sessions. I will offer a non-judgmental space, nurturing self-awareness, whether you are struggling with issues around grief, identity, feelings of un-fulfilment or 'stuck-ness', anxiety, low mood / depression, suicidal ideation or thoughts, problems at work, relationship struggles, confidence, repeating unwanted patterns of behaviour, anger, low self-esteem, guilt, shame, trauma, attachment, abuse, unresolved issues from your past and many more themes that people can feel challenged by in their lives. I trained in Gestalt, and in my practice I draw upon a range of therapeutic models, however at the heart of my approach I will be working relationally, which means that the here and now relationship between myself as the therapist and you as my client is kept in mind and attended to.
If this is your first time coming for therapy I can answer any questions you may have. We will talk together about what you would like to get from coming for counselling, and if you like we can set some goals to work towards. We can agree that we will meet for a shorter number of sessions, or longer term. And if you wanted to extend short term to long term, that will be an option.
Couples counselling/Relationship counselling
Whether you are wanting to find a space to explore specific challenges within your relationship with your partner. or individual i.e family member, or whether you are trying to get on the same page with regards to the future of your relationship i.e working to stay together or working to separate, I would be very pleased to meet with you both, so that we can discuss how we might move forward together. Couples I have worked with have come to see me with a range of issues, such as struggles with communication; intimacy issues; sexual differences, betrayal, parenting differences, emotional or physical infidelity; disillusionment; different life stages; values and beliefs; traumatic situations; trust issues / jealously, and more.
I hold the following qualifications / Accreditations:
- MBACP – A registered member with full accreditation
- Diploma in Higher Education – Gestalt and Humanistic Counselling
- Certificate, level 3 - Gestalt Counselling Skills
- Level 2 Couples Counselling - Integrative
- Certificate, working with children - Gestalt
I am regularly updating my Continuous Professional Development by attending trainings and workshops such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Complex Trauma, Suicide, Anger, Child Protection, Working on-line, Attachment, Creative writing in therapy, and parenting.
I have regular clinical supervision with regards to all of my counselling hours, with a registered and accredited supervisor.
Training, qualifications & experience
I completed my Counselling training in 2006. I have a specific interest in bringing into awareness what you are consciously or unconsciously manifesting into your life.
Having completed further training in Couples Therapy my expertise lies in strengthening complicated or fraught relationships with adult's, and their loved ones.
I also have 4 years experience of working with parents, in the field of Parenting (conscious / gentle parenting), with the addition of a deep understanding of how as a parent you will carry your own wounds and traumas with you, and what this can mean for you and your child/ren. If you are interested in sessions focussing specifically on being-a-parent, where we can explore your own story (experiences of being parented when you were a child), as well as learning new strategies then please feel free to enquire with me.
I hold the following qualifications / Accreditations:
- BACPM – A registered member with full accreditation
- Diploma in Higher Education – Gestalt and Humanistic Counselling
- Certificate, level 3 - Gestalt Counselling Skills
- Certificate in Couples Counselling - level 3
Member organisations
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 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
Other areas of counselling I deal with
- parenting
- identity
- feelings of un-fulfilment or 'stuck-ness'
- suicidal ideation or thoughts
- repeating unwanted patterns of behaviour
- shame
- attachment
Therapies offered
Fees
£70.00 per session
Additional information
Individuals: £70 for 50 minute session
Relationship counselling: £110 for 75 min session
When I work
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I tend to hold 11am & 2pm slots for couple sessions and meet with individuals at 10am
