Alison Swindin
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This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
A warm welcome and thank you for looking at my profile.
I specialise in Individual and Couples Counselling, providing a safe space where you can express your feelings, explore difficult situations, and find healthier ways to cope.
-Professionally trained and qualified person-centred counsellor
-Individual and Couples Counselling
-Online and face to face sessions
-Initial complimentary phone 20-minute consultation
-A welcoming, calm, and safe environment where you can speak freely and in confidence
Together, we can work on a range of issues including:-
-Anxiety and Depression
-Relationships and Communication Effectiveness
-Family Challenges
-Low Self-Esteem or Low Self-Confidence
-Infidelity
-Challenges Retirement brings
-Bereavement
-Supporting Carers
-Long-Term Health Conditions
I support you through the emotional impact of your situation and help you to find ways to manage stress and responsibility. I offer an initial complimentary 20-minute phone or online consultation so that you can be confident that I am the right counsellor for you. The relationship between us is key and as we work together to build trust, we can explore the challenges and hardships you may be facing.
Counselling for carers
Counselling for carers can give valuable support, providing them with an opportunity to focus on their own well-being and explore their feelings and options. My personal experience of being an unintentional long-term carer, means I can identify and empathise with others who are in a similar situation.
About Counselling
It is important that you feel heard and with this you will see the benefits that this has on your wellbeing and growth.
Speaking openly with someone impartial that you can trust in an environment where you can feel truly heard can be empowering. I will support you to consider your next steps and to help you arrive at decisions to make changes or to accept the things that you can’t change. The work will be reflective and my aim is to support you to grow so that you feel confident in your own decisions.
I offer empathy and compassion when you're faced with difficult or anxious times, meaning that you can explore unsettling thoughts without feeling judged.
I've worked collaboratively with clients of all ages facing various challenges. I feel fortunate to have been part of their journey and every client’s wellbeing is important to me. As clients self-awareness and confidence increased through our sessions, they were able to feel more in control of their decisions.
What to expect
Person-centred therapy is a non-directive approach to counselling with the view that every client has the resources within needed for their growth.
You , the client will lead the sessions and I will support, listen and guide you enabling you to become autonomous in your choices. I wont be offering advice but I may signpost to other areas that you may find useful.
Our first session will be about finding out more about you and your reasons for seeking Counselling and any goals that you have. Also whether you've had Counselling before and what you found helpful or otherwise.
The counselling sessions
Working online (any location) and face to face counselling sessions, available at counselling rooms in Pontefract or Wakefield City Centre.
Each session will last 50 minutes. The number of sessions can be discussed at the first meeting. I offer short term or long term therapy with regular reviews together on progress and future sessions.
Training, qualifications & experience
- SEG Awards ABC Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling, Wakefield College
- TQUK Level 2 Certificate in Understanding Autism.
- SEG Awards ABC Level 3 Certificate in Counselling Skills, Wakefield College.
- SEG Awards ABC Level 2 Award In Counselling Concepts
- CPD Course and Certificate from the Open University and BACP- Working Online as a Counsellor
- CPD Course in working with Trans and Gender Diverse clients
- CPD Course in Exploring Suicidal Risk with Clients, practical and relational ways of working with Suicidality
- CPD Course in working with trauma
- CPD Course in self harm awareness
- CPD Course in working with addictions
- CPD Course in bereavement awareness.
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.
Areas of counselling I deal with
Therapies offered
Photos & videos
Fees
£35.00 - £70.00
Free initial telephone session
Concessions offered for
Additional information
Fees and payment will be discussed at the initial sessions.
Individual Face to Face Counselling £50 for a 50 minute session.
Couples Face to Face Counselling £60 for a 50 minute session(£90 for 75 minutes).
Online discounted rate of £35 for Student Counsellors and Unemployed. Student ID or proof of unemployment required.
For face to face in Wakefield £60 for individuals & £70 for couples . £45 for Unemployed or Student Counsellors.
When I work
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I offer online and face to face counselling Monday/Tuesday/Weds/Thursday. Occasional appointments Friday morning. Face to Face in Darrington, limited availability Wakefield(no evenings)
Further information
Endorsements
K from Pontefract September 2024
You have been incredible and the biggest rock to offload to when I needed it the most. I feel I would not be as strong as I am now if I hadn't come to see you so I just want to say a huge thank you.
A from Northampton- September 2023
I'm so glad that I found Alison. She has provided me with a compassionate, kind and non-judgemental listening ear at a time when I needed it the most. I never thought I'd be in the position to need to speak to a counsellor and was very nervous about what it would be like, but she made it as easy as possible and helped me to navigate the challenges I was dealing with. As a result I now have the tools and the self-belief I need to be able to face whatever comes my way. I cannot thank Alison enough and would recommend her to anyone who feels like they are struggling and might be hesitating to get some extra help.
Z from Pontefract- April 2024
I have used Alison for nearly a year and she has changed my life. I originally started for help with OCD & Anxiety and went on to offloading anything that that got me down or overwhelmed and I've benefitted so much. My thought process, coping mechanisms, the boundaries I have daily to help me and learning how to process things differently. I'm a different person and my kids, family and friends are like "wow, who is this new person" Its so lovely.
I cannot thank Alison enough and still plan to use her on an ad-hoc basis when I get overwhelmed or anxious and the world gets on top of me.
