Alison Thorpe, DwellingSpace Counselling

Hello. I am currently offering counselling and therapy online (Zoom) and via phone. I hope to be offering in-person counselling later this year. I also offer 'focusing' (www.focusing.org.uk) which is a way of listening to and accompanying ourselves and has profound benefits. It gets called a body or somatic practice but put simply its about giving compassionate attention to whatever arises in the present moment within ourselves. I work in an "experiential" way which means encouraging you to pay attention inwardly - sometimes bodily and also to metaphors or images that arise - towards what is going on sort of 'off the radar' or 'just below the surface'. Perhaps you have talked about what's affecting you but things haven't changed. Listening to ourselves inwardly often leads to surprising, revealing and very helpful results. Some people find that learning focusing puts them in touch with their real or core self in a way they'd not experienced before which can be incredibly affirming, bringing forward movement from situations or experiences that have felt very stuck or repetitive.

I am also happy to offer a listening service rather than 'therapy' if you find yourself needing someone to be there with you, and really hear and understand how it is for you, what you're dealing with, without judgement. Many people are struggling in this pandemic and in various ways. You are free to book sessions as you need, or to work regularly with me. Some people come once a week, some fortnightly. You can have a focusing or listening session as and when you need.

I can offer help if you've survived difficult childhood experiences, including sexual abuse, and need to find someone to help you heal from trauma.

A lot of people don't realise that difficult experiences such as depression, anxiety, feeling stuck or hopeless, ongoing life dissatisfaction and so on, very often have their roots in childhood experiences and trauma. Trauma is a way of saying something was overwhelming to us and we could not deal with it at the time. It can be surprising what has affected us that we may not have ever realised. At the same time once we link past and present there can be either a sense that we did know this somehow, or a part of us did, or it just makes so much sense once we know. Focusing can help us make these links between past and present and over time be very freeing.

I personally tried a lot of therapy before I found focusing and focusing-oriented therapy and my life actually changed and I felt better, understanding what had held me back, and began to really thrive and be and express who I really was. From the beginning, I was able to tap into a core part of me which had my best interests at heart, was life-enhancing and which I could deeply trust to guide my recovery. I have a real understanding of what it can feel like to be deeply stuck and not know how to go forward and can offer to help you to find your own way forward too.

I work with various issues people struggle with - anxiety,  panic attacks, relationship and gender identity issues, stress, bereavement, feeling sad, unhappy or unfulfilled. Often it is hard to even name what we're seeking counselling or other help for. I am happy to have an initial session with you to explore what's going on for you, what you feel you need and how we might work together to address what you're coping with or wanting for your life.

I charge £50 a session. I am also happy to arrange a free initial 20 min chat on the phone or over Zoom so you can get an initial sense of me and if I'm the right therapist for you.

Counselling can give you:

• a more solid sense of who you are in the world
• more inner resources and ability to cope
• freedom from the limitations and pain of unresolved trauma
• relief from sharing a burden so it's no longer overwhelming or weighing down on you.
• a realisation that what you feared can be shared and you're okay.

It can feel daunting and scary to contact a counsellor. I'm warm and approachable and clients have often shared that it was easier than they thought it was going to be. People have also said that they have been able to share embarrassing or traumatic or shameful experiences with me and felt heard, understood and safe.

You can contact me by text, phone or email, whatever is easiest or convenient for you.