Alison Souster
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This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
My Skills and practice
Life can be complicated and uncertain at times, many curve balls can take us by surprise. Unsettling us, creating uncertainty, self doubt, promoting anxiety believing we no longer have control. Working together we can help to create a new normal and balance. Enabling feelings of calmness and control when everything is changing around us.
I have a very wide portfolio of experience working with Adults, and young people I am able to quickly develop trusting relationships with my clients enabling a strong working and confidential experience. Being Psychodynamic trained enables deeper insight into personal trauma, helping the individual to understand the cause of their pain. Looking at past experiences can help our understanding of current behaviours; that sometimes make us feel stuck in a cycle of repeated patterns. Together we can explore your difficulties, uncovering what is holding you back. Identifying personal needs, aims and ambitions. I recognise and respect we are all individual and have a unique identity with ourselves and the outside world. All work between us will be tailored to your individual needs.
How Counselling can work for you
Working at a deeper level can be difficult and painful at times, however the rewards and benefits of a happier more content life will soon outweigh what can feel like an arduous and long journey. The work we do together can be one of the most unique and rewarding experiences you may ever have and hopefully enable you to be the person you want to be. Counselling can offer you a chance to speak openly without judgement. Perhaps you are struggling with your relationships, confidence, self-esteem, or situations that make you feel anxious. Maybe you are struggling with aspects of you working life, Whatever is is you are finding difficult we can face the challenges together.
Commitment to Professional practice
All work will be undertaken within a quiet and safe space. Your trust in total confidentially is paramount, and my relationship with you will respect this at all times. My practice is underpinned by the BACP's Ethical Framework for Good Practice in Counselling and Psychotherapy ensuring professional competence.
Please feel comfortable to give me a call for an informal chat, there are no obligations to proceed, this is about you and you have control of what you want to do. A brief chat may uncover more than you think. Alternatively you can email me, if this feels easier and more comfortable for you.
I look forward to talking with you soon.
Training, qualifications & experience
BACP Accredited Diploma of HE in Contemporary Psychodynamic Counselling (University of Leicester)
Certificate of HE in Contemporary Psychodynamic Counselling (University of Leicester)
Certificate in Responding to substance misuse
Certificate in Counselling Awareness in Bereavement Care (Ascentis Accredited)
Certificate - CAN, Substance support and awareness in working with young people
Certificate in Counselling Supervision (Level 3 ) Ascentis Accredited
Level 6 CPCAB Supervision
Working experience:
Women's Aid - Domestic violence
Mind - Mental health
Northants Police - Dedicated Substance and intervention program
Education - School, working with 11-18yr olds
Cruse - Bereavement support
Cruse - Assessing individuals for future support
Cruse - Supervisor for bearevement support workers.
Private practice - Individual one to one, couples, telephone and online support.
Experience of working within the Criminal Justice System.
Registered member of the BACP.
Supervisor at The Lowndown Youth Counselling, Sexual Health & LGBTQ services
Supervisor Northampton.School for Boys
NHS responder - Check in and chat
Enhanced DBS Checked
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
Criminal Justice, working with offenders of all ages
Fees
£60.00 per session
Concessions offered for
Additional information
Individual Sessions £60.00/60 minutes. Couples £80.00/60 minutes
The initial session may extend beyond 60 minutes, allowing time for you to get to know how I work and to discuss your individual needs and expectations. From here we can begin to explore your difficulties and together work toward a pathway that feels comfortable and safe for you.
Flexible appointment times available
Skype appointments available
Payments are by bank transfer
When I work
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I am available for appointments during the daytime, evenings. Weekend appointments considered on an individual basis.Please telephone or email to discuss your individual needs.
Further information
Areas of Work
The list of areas I work in are not exhaustive. My portfolio extends beyond this and encompasses experiences within all areas of life. Please do not feel I cannot help you if you do not recognise your particular issue of distress within the listings. My way of working recognises that everyone is unique, my focus is to maintain autonomy and individuality, and therefore sessions are tailored for each persons need. It is important that you don't feel that you are having to fit into a certain box or category. I would like the opportunity to meet you for the first time and hear your story.
