Alison Cavanagh
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This professional is temporarily unavailable and will not be responding to enquiries until they return.
This professional is temporarily unavailable and will not be responding to enquiries until they return.
About me
Thank you for visiting my site. I run Healing Connections Counselling Service and am truly passionate about the positive change therapy can bring to people's lives. Whether you are browsing here, or have made a decision to invest in your wellbeing, welcome.
I am an experienced life course therapist who specialises in working with children, young people and adults experiencing a range of difficulties such as anxiety, low mood, stress, trauma or health problems that are impacting their quality of life. I have Post Graduate qualifications in working with Adults from University of Salford, and in Children and Young people's counselling, having trained with Place2be. Place2be are a leading children's mental health charity.
People seeking counselling are often struggling with their life or with family relationships. Others are burdened by multiple troubles, dragging them down. They may have tried opening up to family or friends which hasn't worked out, feel embarrassed or fear upsetting their loved ones.
Counsellors are highly trained professionals who are there to be non judgmental, genuine and empathic at your time of needing a helping hand. One of the first things we can do is help establish a goal or goals to help your life feel easier. From there, whether you envisage seeking a couple of sessions or longer term work, I am flexible in my approach with you at the centre.
Many counsellors come into the profession as a second career. I trained as a Counsellor / psychotherapist alongside a forty year career as a Registered Adult, then Children's Nurse. I have extensive professional experience from hospitals, schools, University, respite care and hospice and bereavement settings. I am also a parent & grandparent. My work and life experiences richly inform my counselling practice in Healing Connections Counselling service. You will be enabled to feel safe to open up at your own pace.
I am positive, focused, patient and importantly, reliable.
Practical information if you want to consider counselling for yourself or your child:
- I firstly offer a free, informal 30 minute phone call to discuss the troubles you are having, what you have tried, and what you feel may help. You may not know what may help yet and that is fine. I will listen, and together we can see if you would like to work with me.
- This is also an opportunity for me to explain what my service is about and for you to ask any questions you may have.
- Only if you decide to go ahead, we can tailor counselling for you and your goals. Some people come for just one or two sessions, and some for much longer. It is your choice.
- Working together is adapted to your individual likes and dislikes, and if you are a child, your developmental stage and interests. I will make every effort to ensure our work is paced to your wants and needs.I am trained in creative work, but you are my absolute priority, so all work is guided by your goals.
- I aim to be inclusive to adapt the therapy setting to enable you to feel as relaxed and comfortable as possible. Please feel free to tell me if you have specific needs.
Thank you for reading my profile. I offer you my warmest wishes in contacting me or another therapist and in your journey to feel better.
Further information:
If you have landed here and feel you need help straight away Contact 111 selecting'Mental Health' https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/mental-health-services/where-to-get-urgent-help-for-mental-health/ or 999 if needed. Parents/ guardians and young people can use this service.
My practice is trauma informed.
I am committed to an inclusive practice and am currently training to be autism informed.
I have a current DBS certificate [December 2024]
I am Registered with the Information Commissioner's Office [January 2025]
Training, qualifications & experience
I am a Registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (MBACP) and adhere to their ethical framework. I am dual trained in both Child and Adult Counselling & Psychotherapy.
I have a clear DBS certificate.
- Post Graduate Diploma (Level 7) In Counselling & Psychotherapy with Distinction [University of Salford] 2014
- Masters Degree in Human Relations [University of Salford] 2007
- CPCAB Certificate Level 5 in Working Therapeutically with Children and Young People in School Settings ( In school training) [Place2be] 2024
- CATT training [Children's Accelerated Trauma Training] 2024
- The Kindness Crusade - Compassion focused therapy for wellbeing 2023
- Certificate in Creative Counselling with young people 2021
- Working with bereaved children 2022
- Prevent awareness training 2023
- Luna Suicide bereavement training 2021
- Bumps and Bashes First Aid 2024
- Papyrus Suicide prevention training 2025
- NSPCC Safeguarding 16-25 year old training 2025
- Understanding Autism. Open University Training 2025 in progress
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
Other areas of counselling I deal with
Troubled family relationships.
Psychological impacts of health diagnoses
Childhood trauma
Long term health problems
Therapies offered
Fees
£50.00 per session
Concessions offered for
Additional information
I offer a free, no obligation 30 minute telephone discussion
I work with people from 7 years upwards on a short or long term basis.
I can offer weekly or fortnightly sessions.
I have 1 slot at a fee of £40 for people on reduced income, subject to availability
When I work
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I am semi retired and only have limited spaces for clients.
Further information
If wheelchair access is required I will make arrangements for you.
My current premises have limited stairs.
