Alison Thorpe - Dwelling Space counselling and focusing

About me

I offer counselling and also 'focusing' to help you move from stuck and unsatisfying life situations and/or feelings of anxiety, depression, loss of meaning, and so on, into better and happier living. I can work with you so you can become and express more of the person you truly are. 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.

It can feel awful if you are coming up against the same blocks in your life, repeating situations or going in and out of depression or anxiety or panic attacks and feel that change doesn't happen, as well as not understanding why unpleasant feelings keep returning. Alternatively you might be coping with something that has been more recently troubling. Or maybe unsettling thoughts, fears or memories are arising.

"Focusing" within a counselling relationship or on its own as a self-guidance and life-enhancing skill - is a way of tapping into your deeper wisdom, but in a very practical way. You can then continue to use this whenever you need, outside of the counselling room. I will be shortly adding a video, below, with a demonstration of what focusing can look like. Focusing is one of several therapies that work somatically, using awareness of subtle bodily communications that we can learn to pay attention to. Working with images can also be a way of accessing non-verbal knowledge which can help us live forward in a way that is satisfying.

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 - eg relationship 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.

I charge £50 a session. I am also happy to arrange a free initial chat on the phone or over videoconferencing (Zoom or VSee, which are easy to use).

I'm open to working with you either as a counsellor, where you are most likely to come to weekly sessions (for a length of time that you decide as we go along), or to experience and learn focusing - this does not need to be weekly. You can also come with a decision or choice you want or need to make or an action block and see how focusing might help you.

Counselling can give you:

• a more solid sense of who you are in the world
• more inner resources
• more ability to cope
• the relief that comes from sharing a burden so it's no longer overwhelming or weighing down on you.

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 shared 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.