Alison Watson
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This professional is currently not accepting new clients and may not respond to general enquiries at this time.
This professional is currently not accepting new clients and may not respond to general enquiries at this time.
About me
I work in private practice, having over 13 years of counselling experience. I offer a safe (and confidential) quiet space in which to share what brings you to counselling. I understand that finding a therapist can be a very daunting thing, and that you will understandably be nervous about trusting a complete stranger, which is why I offer a free half an hour session, to enable you to meet me (not counselling in this free session), and without pressure, decide if you feel comfortable to embark on counselling.
I work with a wide range of issues which includes anxiety, panic attacks, depression, relationship difficulties (with individuals), workplace stress and bullying, poor self-esteem, bereavement, compulsive hoarding disorder, and trauma including sexual and physical abuse, but if your issue is not listed, please still feel free to contact me, and we can discuss if it would be possible for us to work together.
I am an integrative counsellor, using a variety of therapies and interventions, including creative therapies, and will work with you according to what suits you best, as a unique individual, and always collaboratively so that you are always part of the healing process. I have a faith, and can work with issues of spirituality, whether shared or of another faith or equally those with none, respecting the Client's position at all times.
Prior to training as a Counsellor, I worked as a Legal Secretary for over 11 years, some of that time on high profile court cases in a high pressure working environments in London. I am able to draw on these experiences in understanding the challenges of the workplace, its pressures both relationally and from a workload point of view. I am married with 2 grown up children and so have an understanding of relationships, some of the pressures of parenthood and have experience with those suffering long term health issues.…
Training, qualifications & experience
I have a BA Honours Degree in Counselling from Roehampton University. I have over 4,500 counselling hours. I am on the BACP Accredited Voluntary Register of Counsellors and Psychotherapists (Registration number 063244).
I worked as a Counsellor at the Shinewater Shaftesbury Centre, in Eastbourne, for over 3 years and Counselling Together in Hampshire in addition to my private clients.
I am also trained as a Critical Incident Debriefer - through Le Rucher (Geneva) and in classic Debriefing through People in Aid (London).
I have undertaken practical CPD modules of a Post Graduate Certificate in Children's and Families Therapy, accredited through ACC (Association of Christian Counsellors), and have been working with Fegans (www.fegans.org.uk), counselling children and doing some Family Support work (parenting issues).
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
Therapies offered
Fees
£40.00 per session
Free initial in-person session
Additional information
I offer a free initial half hour assessment with no obligation to continue.
My fees are £40 for 60 minutes for individuals
Students £30 for 60 minutes, short term contracts available, to cover course requirements for Counselling students.
Concessions may be available dependant on personal financial circumstances (low income or Benefits).
Payment can be made by a card reader (also accepts Apple Pay) or cash at each session. Bank transfers can only be accepted in advance and by prior agreement.
When I work
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Daytime Tuesdays and Wednesdays, early evening Tuesday (last appointment 5.30). During the summer break I also see Clients on a Monday but not term time
Further information
Therapies offered:
Cognitive and Behavioural Therapies
- Behavioural Therapy
- Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT)
Humanistic Therapies
- Person Centred Counselling
- Gestalt Therapy
Other Therapies
- Creative Therapies
such as: Inner Child Therapy and Art Therapy
Debriefing
- Critical Incident
- Trauma
