Alison Cassy

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BSc (Hons) Psych, Dip. Psychotherapeutic Counselling MBACP
Available for new clients
Available for new clients

This professional is available for new clients.

Chichester, West Sussex, PO19
Available for new clients
Available for new clients

This professional is available for new clients.

About me

Life can throw challenging issues at us all at times and although we may for the most part manage our problems well, sometimes things can become too much and we may feel overwhelmed and unable to cope alone. A “neutral” person to talk things over with, someone who won’t criticise or give advice but who is prepared to really listen and help find different ways of looking at the problem can be very helpful. This is where effective counselling, tailored to the individual or couple’s needs, has its place. I am an Accredited Psychotherapeutic counsellor and offer a safe and confidential space where clients may bring their anxieties and issues to explore safely and without fear of judgment.

Perspective

  • My work is underpinned by the psychodynamic approach and as such I work on the premise that we think, feel and behave as a result of our formative experiences. My aim is to work with you relationally to look at these early experiences and help bring unconscious patterns of behaviour and relating to a conscious level. This new awareness can bring about changes in how you understand and feel about yourself and how you relate to others, enabling you to tackle negative patterns and take better control, make better choices and ultimately some real improvements in your life.
  • I offer short term and open-ended therapy and will draw on a range of other approaches including trauma-informed CBT, mindfulness and compassion-focussed therapy where appropriate to the client's goals. I use an integrative therapy programme with a biopsychosocial approach to work relationally and compassionately with out of control sexual behaviour issues, helping clients to understand why they are using sex and/or pornography compulsively and finds ways to regain control and rediscover positive sexual behaviours that fit with their values.
  • My sex and relationship work is integrative and I can support clients through a range of relationship issues such as affairs and betrayals, communication problems and difficult decisions such as separation and divorce.
  • I am currently in-training as a Psychosexual Therapist and can support sexual dysfunction issues such as premature ejaculation, erection difficulties, painful sex and penetration, low libido, orgasm difficulties. I am an LGBTQ+ positive and kink aware therapist.
  • I understand that entering into counselling takes courage and I have a deep respect for the level of trust my clients place in me when sharing intensely personal issues. In return I offer empathy and complete confidentiality to all my clients.


I am very happy to work with anyone who would like to rebalance their inner world and bring about positive changes. My hope is that if this is the right time for you to take the first step that you will find talking therapy can be a great emotional release and provide you with a pathway to a happier, more fulfilling life.

Training, qualifications & experience

BSc (Hons) Psychology

Diploma in Psychotherapeutic Counselling (Psychodynamic)

Diploma in Sex Addiction Counselling

Professional Certificate in Therapeutic Practice with Sex Offenders (Approved COSRT training)

OCST Online Counselling Diploma for email/skype/IM (Approved ACTO training)

Certificate in Counselling Young People - qualified to work with young people aged 14-18 (current Enhanced DBS certificate held).

Certificate in Cognitive Behavioral Therapies inc. Third Wave Therapies.

Advanced Certificate in Couples Counselling (COSRT approved training)

Certificate in The Developmental Model of Couples Therapy (Bader-Pearson)

TA101 (Transactional Analysis)

Certificate in the Assessment of clients for counselling

Certificate in Pre-Trial Therapy: working therapeutically with clients involved in the criminal justice system

I undertake regular approved CPD training each year and hold a wide range of certificates since 2014 - present including:

  • Working safely with trauma (Portsmouth Abuse and Rape Counselling Service)
  • Systematic and ritual sexual abuse (Circles South East)
  • Strengths-based approaches inc.  the Better Lives Model
  • Motivational Interviewing techniques (Solent NHS Trust).
  • Working with relational trauma / Dealing with Distress - Working with suicide & self harm; Working with Shame / Dissociation and DID (Positive Outcomes for Dissociative Survivors).

What I can offer you:

I have experience across the voluntary sector and as an NHS Psychological Therapist as well as private practice.

I offer an individual general counselling service for a wide range of issues including depression and anxiety, low self-esteem, relationship issues, life stage difficulties, trauma, sexual abuse and am experienced with a wide range of clients aged between 14-90 years old.

I am employed by a West Sussex-based Charity as a therapist and Assessor of clients for counselling for male and female survivors of rape and sexual abuse. I have regular specific training in trauma therapy, including Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and working with dissociation, in order to work effectively and safely with the trauma arising from sexual abuse within and outside the family and domestic violence. I hold an OCST Diploma in online therapy which allows me to offer qualified email and video therapy in private practice.

Alongside this, I am a registered member of ATSAC (Association for the Treatment of Sexual Addiction and Compulsivity) and have specialist training to provide counselling for the sensitive issues of sex and porn addiction with which many people struggle. I also provide therapy for contact and non-contact sex offending issues and have undertaken COSRT-approved specialist training to work therapeutically with offending and non-offending paedophiles and other perpetrator issues including internet offending and paraphilias. I am a registered therapist with StopSO (Specialist Treatment Organisation for the Prevention of Sex Offending) and take referrals to work with anyone affected by sex offending whether they are perpetrator, victim, non-offending partners or people worried by inappropriate thoughts and feelings. This is because I believe that those who need help in managing behaviours in order to stay safe should be able to access support. Appropriate therapy for clients who feel they may be at risk of acting out helps them to try and understand their offending behaviour and learn ways of meeting their life needs pro-socially which, vitally, reduces the risk of reoffending.

I have also provided voluntary counselling for Circles South East clients (a national charity dedicated to rehabilitating convicted sex offenders) for a number of years.

I am a qualified couples counsellor and have COSRT approved training and further training in the Bader-Pearson Developmental Model to support this work.

As a registered member of the BACP, I am governed by the Ethical Code of Conduct and as such I undergo regular professional supervision and specialist supervision for forensic therapy and hold full professional indemnity insurance.

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.

ATSAC
Association for the Treatment of Sexual Addiction and Compulsivity (ATSAC)

The Association for Treatment of Sexual Addiction and Compulsivity (ATSAC) is the leading UK organisation providing hope, information, support, and treatment options for those affected by sexual addiction and compulsivity.

ATSAC sets standards of practice for qualified therapists and provides accreditation for specialist training courses. A therapist who has gone through ATSAC recognised training will have the knowledge to respect and work with you sensitively to find out how best to support your needs.

Therapy options may include one-to-one sessions, group work, and/or relationship counselling. ATSAC is a not-for-profit organisation.

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

  • Treatment for sex and porn addiction
  • Counselling for partners of sex addicts
  • Counselling for sex offenders (contact offences/online child sexual abuse material) and people who are concerned they may be at risk of offending.

    Counselling for non-offending partners and family.


Fees

£60.00 - £80.00
Free initial telephone session

Concessions offered for

  • Low income
  • OAPs
  • Students

Additional information

I offer 50 minute sessions for individual sessions, fees start at £60.

Sex and relationship counselling sessions are currently payable at £80.

I currently offer concessions from £60 for Psychosexual therapy support. 

Fee reductions apply for students/seniors and for people with low income so that therapy is accessible. This can be discussed at the first assessment appointment.

When I work

Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
Morning
Afternoon
Evening
Night

Day and evening appointments 10am-7.30pm Monday-Friday in Chichester. In-person and video appointments available.

Further information

I currently offer concessions for working with Psychosexual therapy issues, such as premature ejaculation, erection problems, painful sex, low libido whilst I complete my  training.


Location

I work from quiet offices in Chichester town centre, within walking distance of bus/train routes and very close to public car parking. I can offer daytime and evening appointments in-person and by video.
Please leave an answerphone message if I am unable to take your call, or email me. I aim to return messages within a day.

Chichester, West Sussex, PO19

Type of session

In person
Online

Types of client

Young people
Adults
Older adults
Couples

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

Online platforms

Google Meet
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Whatsapp
Alison Cassy
Alison Cassy