Alison Bennett
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This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
I work from a private and comfortable room tucked away in my village home 2 miles outside of Ledbury. As a counsellor my aim is to create a confidential, safe and non-judgemental space for you to explore issues, feelings or situations that are causing you distress or confusion. These might include difficulties around confidence or self-esteem, relationships, depression, anxiety, loss, bereavement or illness. Whether experiencing overwhelming circumstances, long-standing problems, or a general discontent with life I work together with my clients to enable them to discover their own fresh insight and new ways of moving forwards.
Due to the recent coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, many people are experiencing profound anxiety and I am currently working with those who are needing extra support through these current events, offering internet and telephone sessions when face to face is not appropriate.
From a person-centred background, I draw on different elements of theory and practice to most effectively meet each client's unique needs. I have been trained in a broad spectrum of approaches and techniques that allow me to do this effectively and offer both open-ended and short-term therapy to young people, adults and couples.
I am an accredited member of the BACP and adhere to their ethical guidelines and have achieved the BACP Certificate of Proficiency.
Due to the current coronavirus outbreak, I am currently offering telephone or online counselling as an alternative to face-to-face counselling.
Training, qualifications & experience
I have worked closely with people of all ages for over 30 years as a Health Care Professional in many varied hospital settings. In 2002 I moved across into counselling, training to degree standard and am an accredited member of the BACP with a Certificate of Proficiency.
Since then I have worked at a charity funded Counselling Centre providing free and reduced fee counselling to both self referred and GP referred clients, offering support to those experiencing such issues as depression, anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder, relationship problems, self esteem issues, anger management and self harm.
I have also worked in both Children and Adult Hospice settings working alongside those diagnosed with life limiting illnesses and their families and more recently, running my own private practice which continues to expand.
In addition to my Counselling degree and accreditation I have received further training in Bereavement support, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, The Therapeutic use of Mindfulness, Compassionate Focused Therapy, Solution Focused Therapy, Couple Counselling and the use of Creative Writing and Arts. I have attended workshops on the issues of self esteem, domestic abuse, ways of managing stress and anxiety, ways of managing depression, working with shame and guilt, and the experience of spiritual distress at end of life.
I have a particular interest in working with those for whom their spiritual context is important, particularly those from a Christian faith background and for others who may be searching for meaning and direction in life and am a member of the BACP Spirituality group.
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
Those who are experiencing terminal illness in themselves or a family member or close friend.
The loss of a child.
Therapies offered
Fees
Additional information
Due to the present crisis, I am offering lowered fees for those experiencing financial challenge.
The usual rate for an initial session, an important opportunity for us to meet with each other, discuss how we might work together and for you to ask any questions you might have, is half price at £20.
Thereafter the full charge is £40 a session but am happy to negotiate for those who are unable to cover the full fee.
When I work
I offer daytime and evening appointments with flexibility for those requiring it. I am currently offering telephone or online counselling as an alternative to face-to-face counselling.
Further information
Please feel free to contact me and we can discuss how I might be able to support you.
It might be helpful to visit my counselling web site at www.theviewcounselling.co.uk
