Alison Sutcliffe

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she/her/hers
Counsellor & Psychotherapist & EMDR MSc (MBACP Accred)
Brighton, East Sussex, BN2 9QA

About me

You

Perhaps you’re someone who has got very good at coping.

You get things done. You show up. People probably see you as capable and together. But underneath, you might be exhausted, second-guessing yourself, struggling to switch off or finding it surprisingly difficult to ask for what you need.

My offer

I help people say what they really want to say.

I help people ask for what they want e.g. that pay rise that you know you deserve.

I help people stop second-guessing themselves.

I help people set boundaries without feeling like they're being difficult.

I help people feel more comfortable being themselves.

You don't need to become a different person.  You just need some of the things that have been keeping you stuck to stop having quite so much power.

Me

I am an accredited and experienced counsellor and psychotherapist, who has been working with clients since 2009, and my role is to help you make sense of what is happening for you and, through the process of our work together, free you up to live this life you have made more comfortably and more fully.

I hold a trauma-informed perspective and I have trained in Eye Movement Desensitisation Reprocessing (EMDR) in order to help you process any traumatic life events or any stuck views you have about yourself e.g. I am not worthy of that pay rise.

What you are experiencing right now might show up as, or be linked to, some of the following:

  • Anxiety/ panic/ panic attacks
  • Depression/ low mood
  • Abuse - emotional/ sexual/ physical
  • Loss/ bereavement
  • Identity - questions around 'who am I?' across personal/ social/ gender/ sexual
  • Loss of purpose/ direction
     

I truly believe that we are all doing our best and that sometimes our strategies, that have helped us get to where we are now, stop being so helpful - and that can be one of the times that we find ourselves in the therapy room. During my lengthy career of working alongside my clients, I have found myself continually delighted by our human ability to face our challenges and begin to not just survive but thrive.

Us

In order for counselling, psychotherapy and EMDR to be of support to you, the relationship between you and I needs to be one that feels supportive and safe. Therefore I offer a free consultation so that we can see whether we feel like a good fit.

Where

We can work together in person in at 30 Grand Parade BN2 9QA or online from wherever you happen to be in the UK. 

How It Works

This is where we start:

I find that the experience of being truly heard is so often missing from our lives – this seemingly simplistic of act of feeling listened to, and understood, can provide the first step towards deeper personal understanding and a relief from what you are experiencing right now. 

And this is where we can head to:

Our work together can lead to:

  • Relief from trauma symptoms such as panic/ nightmares/ flashbacks/ hypervigilance/ self-alienation/ low self-esteem/ anxiety/ depression
  • A clearer and more compassionate view of yourself
  • Developing greater acceptance of yourself
  • Increased trust in your ability to make your own decisions
  • Increased general confidence
  • Deeper connection to yourself alongside more profound connection with others.

Through the process of us working together we may decide that utilising Eye Movement Densensitisation Reprocessing (EMDR) might be supportive to assist you in working through past trauma and/ or the impacts that can include a negative self image e.g. not feeling worthy of that pay rise or that relationship.

Training, qualifications & experience

I have been practicing as a counsellor & pyschotherapist since 2009 and I’ve completed specialist online training in order to provide Online Therapy. I have gained my BACP accreditation. I am a Person-centred counsellor & psychotherapist – this means that I believe that you are unique and you have the innate ability to grow towards your own full potential. I have a trauma-informed perspective & I have trained in EMDR in order to help you process any traumatic life events or experiences.

Beyond individual therapeutic work, I completed training in working with groups in 2011 and since then I have worked with groups of young people, groups of therapy students, groups of adults within an NHS setting.

I have also completed EFT Couple Counselling training in order to work with those who wish to work on their relationships with another person/s in the room. This training also enables me to offer further insight when working with individuals on their relationships when their partner is not in the therapy room.

I didn’t take a direct career path into counselling. I spent many years working in the IT industry before deciding that I needed a new direction in my life – I signed up for an introductory counselling course and sought my own personal therapy – the experience was transformative. My initial training, and my positive experience as a client, motivated me to proceed further and complete my full counselling and psychotherapy training.

I work in an LGBTQIA+ Affirmative way and I welcome people from all lifestyle choices and sexual orientations. I am continually informing myself about the breadth of cultural backgrounds and experiences that come together to make each one of us unique – I’d always hope to be able to meet you fully regardless of the differences between us.

My qualifications to date (most recent first):

  • Janina Fisher’s Master Class in Trauma-Informed Stabilisation Treatment (TIST) - Janina Fisher 2025
  • Eye Movement De-sensitisation Reprocessing (EMDR) Parts 1, 2 & 3 - EMDR Nexus 2024
  • Impasses and Challenges in EFT - Rebecca Jorgensen 2023
  • EFT Stage 2-3: Deepening Engagement & Consolidation - Rebecca Jorgensen 2023
  • EFT Stage 1: Reaching De-escalation - Rebecca Jorgensen 2023
  • Core Concepts and Interventions in EFT - Rebecca Jorgensen 2023
  • MSc in Contemporary Person-Centred Psychotherapy and Applications - Metanoia Institute - 2022 (return to study - fully qualified in 2010)
  • Working with shame - Carolyn Spring 2020
  • Talking about sex in the therapy room - Meg-John Barker 2020
  • Working with survivors of sexual violence - Rape Crisis 2017
  • Diploma in Online Therapeutic Counselling - Online Training For Counsellors 2015
  • Making Trauma Therapy Safer - with Babette Rothschild 2015
  • General Certificate in Online Counselling Skills - Online Training For Counsellors 2013
  • Group Facilitation - City Lit 2011
  • Diploma in Practitioner Counselling Skills (person-centred approach) - City Lit 2010 (= fully qualified)
  • Certificate in Counselling Skills - City Lit 2008
  • Time Limited Counselling - City Lit 2008

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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.

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

Areas of counselling I deal with

Therapies offered

Photos & videos

Fees

£80.00 - £90.00

Health Insurance/EAP

  • Axa Health

Additional information

Our initial telephone or online consultation will be free of charge - let's work out whether we're right for each other without a financial commitment.

Individual work begins at £80 for a 50 minute daytime session and £90 per 50 minute session for sessions after 5pm. 

I am 'recognised' by Aviva Health Insurance and AXA PPP Healthcare therefore you can access my services through your healthcare insurance.

When I work

Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
Early morning
Morning
Early afternoon
Late afternoon
Evening

Further information

In Person:

I currently offer sessions at 30 Grand Parade, BN2 9QA.

Online Therapy:

I have received comprehensive training to offer safe and secure therapy online (and have also trained other therapists to work online). I offer therapy online via a secure platform and I am also able to offer EMDR online utilising the bilateralstimulation.io platform.

Published articles

30 Grand Parade, Brighton, East Sussex, BN2 9QA

Type of session

In person
Online

Types of client

Young adults (18-24)
Adults (25-64)
Older Adults (65+)

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

Zoom

Supervision

In person
Online

Supervision = a haven for the counsellor: a place to pause from the intensity of the work & reflect with honesty & compassion on your practice.

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Social

Alison Sutcliffe
Alison Sutcliffe