About me
If you are experiencing challenges, changes or uncertain times, I offer a calm space for you to share your thoughts and feelings. Somewhere you can talk openly, free of judgement and work towards getting your life back to where you want it to be. I offer you a trained listening ear and a genuine interest in you and helping you explore your feelings and patterns through the process of counselling.
Counselling with me can be either long term or short term. Helping to provide support for a wide range of emotional and relational issues, including: general anxiety disorder, depression, bereavement, loss, work-related stress, relationship issues, low-self esteem, as well as other areas such as long-term chronic illnesss, trauma related isssues, being a carer, family issues and anger management . Our work together can take place in person, online or over the telephone. Additionally, I am trained in CBT-I (for insomnia), offering specialised support for sleep issues. I am also a couples counsellor with specific, in-depth, training in couples and relational therapy.
As an integrative counsellor I use a variety of counselling approaches and modailities in my work, including psychodynamic, person-centred, CBT and the Imago model, in particular, for couples counselling. I apply approaches in a way that keeps close awareness to the connection between the mind and body.
My aim when I work with you is to help shine a light on areas of your situation that you may not have seen, or recognised, before. Once seen, and your self-awareness increases, there is an opportunity for change to take place. Counselling can be helpful in so many ways, and taking that step towards getting the support you need, or the goals you wish to have for yourself, can be freeing, so please do get in touch.
For more information, call 07900409948. I am happy to answer any question you may have. I also offer a free, 15 minute phone call to talk though your current concerns and see if working together is something that could work for you. This call can be booked after we have made initial contact.
Training, qualifications & experience
- CPCAB L5 Diploma in Couples and Relationship Therapy (COSRT thematic accreditation)
- CPCAB L4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling
- CPCAB Certificate in Counselling Studies
- CPCAB Certificate in Counselling Skills
- CPCAB Award Introduction to Counselling Skills
My training enables me to work with couples and individuals at an in-depth relational level. I use the Imago model as a way of working with couples, as well as other modalities.
My initial training followed the integrative model, meaning I match a therapeutic model and technique to your needs. I continue to keep my knowledge and skills up to date through training and certification courses. I am also trained in CBT-I, so can offer support with sleep difficulties.
Previously I have worked for a national charity as a counsellor and local organisations in a variety of therapeutic capacities. Before counselling, I worked in education and have an insight and understanding around the unique pressures and emotional demands from working in school environments. My range of experience and specialised training enables me to work with a variety of emotional needs and mental health issues.
Other Training:
- Introduction to Psychosexual Therapy
- Using CBT in Integrative Counselling
- Working with Bereavement
- Counselling online: a coronavirus primer (OU)
- CBT-I (CBT for Insomnia)
- A Biopsychosocial Perspective on Addiction
- Neuroscience, the body and trauma
- Working with Trauma in a Time of Trauma
- Trauma Triggers and Flashbacks
- The Trauma Counsellors Toolbox
- Trauma and memory
- Discovering Ego States
- Introduction to working with sexual compulsivity
- First Aid at Work Certificate
Member organisations
school 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 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
Other areas of counselling I deal with
CBT-I - CBT for insomnia and sleep issues.
Couples Counselling.
Therapies offered
Photos & videos
Fees
£60.00 - £90.00
Concessions offered for
Health Insurance/EAP
Additional information
- £60.00 per session for 50 minutes
- Couples sessions £90.00 for 50 minutes.
- Free initial telephone session - 15 minutes
- £50.00 concession fee available for trainee counsellors and full-time students.
When I work
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Further information
If we decide to work together, all sessions are 50 minutes long and held at an agreed time after our first initial telephone session.
Couples counselling sessions are also 50 minutes long and clients will be taken through an assessment as part of the first session. This is to establish if all parties feel ready to go ahead and engage with the couples counselling process.
You are free to chose if you would like to work in person or remotely, either by telephone or online. Couples therapy and CBT-I sesions are usually in person.
My practice is based in Orpington and is easily reached by public transport. Free parking is available on the road and is not restricted.
If you telephone, I am not always available to answer my phone, so please leave a message and I will get back to you as soon as I am able to. Please be aware that due to confidentiality reasons I will not leave a message on your phone unless you have said it is ok to do so.
You can also email me at: alison@alisonwestmacottcounselling.com.
