Allan Salmon
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This professional is accepting new clients but may have a waitlist. Please enquire with them directly to discuss availability.
This professional is accepting new clients but may have a waitlist. Please enquire with them directly to discuss availability.
About me
Welcome
Am I the right counsellor for you?
As a place to start...... I wonder if you are noticing any of the following in your life?
- Feeling anxious or overwhelmed
- People-pleasing, or masking
- A history of feeling dismissed, invalidated, or having to adapt to fit in
- Using substances, food or distractions as ways of coping
- Feeling shame, guilt, or a sense of “not being enough"
- Impacts of previous childhood, sexual or domestic abuse
- Low mood, low self esteem, depression, stress.
- Difficulties with relationships, trust, or boundaries
- Self-sabotage and recurring patterns
- A sense of confusion about identity or belonging
- Physical symptoms such as chronic pain, fatigue, or illness without a clear cause
- Perhaps just feeling less like "yourself".
If these experiences sound familiar, I invite you to read on...
How can counselling help, and what should I expect in sessions?
"Where connection, leads to change"
This is the motto of the NCPS (The National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society) and it's one that I live by in my counselling practice.
In my opinion, counselling has to feel right, for it to be effective. That starts with a safe, trusted relationship. Being truly heard, truly seen as your authentic self can be a rare and powerful experience. Especially if the relationships in your life have been difficult, or complicated.
Counselling can be a space for you to make sense of your past, to honour the present, and to move towards a future that's right for you.
In this process I am an active participant. I will be in it with you. I'm not the type of counsellor who "just sits back and nods along". At the right moments (hopefully!) I may offer my personal take on something you've described. For example a metaphor:
"that situation you just explained....as you were talking I had an image that you're standing on opposite sides of a huge canyon and there's just a worn out old rope-bridge between the two sides... "
(FYI the above is entirely fictional)
I may invite you to sit with a particular sensation in your body for a moment. To notice what your nervous system might be asking you to listen to. A tightness in the chest. A restless, jiggling foot....
Instead of talking, it might feel useful to express a feeling or describe a situation by using a creative method. We could use stones, sand, figures, pen and paper, sound or even movement.
I may invite you to gently challenge your perspectives, thoughts or beliefs about yourself, the world or others. Perhaps a rule or a limitation inherited from a caregiver. Maybe a role that society expects you play....
In counselling I can support you to....
- Explore any unhelpful patterns/feelings of being stuck.
- Re-connect with your physical body/emotions.
- Reduce feelings of anxiety, depression, shame, pain.
- Promote clarity, empowerment, understanding.
- Increase your self-awareness. Self-esteem.
- Install healthy boundaries.
- Improve relationships, with self/others
- Find meaning, purpose
- Process emotions and trauma.
The Space:
My counselling room is supposed to work for you.
I want you to feel comfortable and safe when you arrive. I'm aware this is a different thing for everyone. So, we'll discuss ways that the space can work for you during your counselling.
You're free to sit on the floor, kick your shoes off, move about, stand up, use fidget toys (I have LOADS!). There are colouring books, pens and pencils, Sound-bowls, low-lighting and comfy chairs. Even the world's softest cushion.
You are welcome to bring the swearing! The tears, the laughter, the insecurity, the sarcasm and the anger....
All of this is welcome. All the parts of you, are welcome.
What next?
If you've read through my profile and would like to know more, I offer a free 20 min "chemistry call". This can be done online via Google Meet, or in-person. It's a chance for you to:
- Get a sense for how it feels to be in conversation with me.
- Ask any questions you might have.
- Share a little of why you'd like to come to counselling.
- Discuss anything specific you may want/need from counselling
If after this call you'd like to book with me, we'll arrange a time and day for our sessions. You can chose to see me either weekly or bi-weekly.
During your your first session (which is charged at 1/2 price), we'll talk about some of the finer points of counselling (confidentiality etc), as well as exploring ways we can make things work for you.
If there's anything else you'd like to know, please feel free to drop me a message and I'll do my best to answer.
Thank you,
Allan
Training, qualifications & experience
I have a private practice in Fareham, where I offer sessions to individuals both in person and online.
Previously, I have worked as a counsellor for Fareham College, Paragon and The You Trust; charities supporting people affected by Trauma, Domestic Abuse, Sexual Abuse, Addiction and more.
I choose to work integratively, meaning that I draw from a range of different techniques/theories during sessions. This approach helps me to be flexible, and adapt the way I work to suit your individual needs. These may include:
- Psychodynamics
- Transactional Analysis
- Somatic therapy
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
I hold a Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling, and I am passionate about continued professional and personal development - regularly engaging with my own counselling, clinical supervision, and further formal studies which include;
- Therapeutic Yoga for trauma recovery
- Sandstory - Working creatively with sand.
- Level 5 Diploma in Psychotherapeutic Counselling
- Level 5 Diploma Working Somatically with Trauma
- Level 7 Diploma Psychosexual & Relationship Therapy
If you'd like more details on any of the above, please feel free to drop me a message.
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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.
The National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society This Not For Profit association of counsellors and psychotherapists aim to support the counselling profession, members and training organisations. In 2013 the NCS register was accredited by the Professional Standards Authority under the Accredited Voluntary Register Scheme. Accredited by the Professional Standards Authority.
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
Photos & videos
Fees
£60.00 per session
Concessions offered for
Additional information
At the moment I am fully booked, but if you would like to work with me in future I do have a short waiting list. You are welcome to arrange an initial meeting session with me to see if things feels right. During the session we can discuss our availability/time-frames etc.
I offer concessional rate to Trainee Counsellors who are currently enrolled in a professionally qualifying counselling course (Level 4). The rate for these sessions is £40, in person or Online.
When I work
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