Andrew Alexander
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This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
Growing up in the 1970s & 80’s was an interesting experience. My parents came from two different cultures and religions, which meant that I was exposed to different values and beliefs from an early age. It was challenging at times to navigate between my parent’s power play and their expectations for me to follow their individual cultures and religions.
I learned to question things and make my own choices. This helped me become my own person valuing equality and diversity. I have respect for everyone’s views as they are different, and I am non-judgmental. My family guided me as best they could, but ultimately it was up to me to find my own path. Being different allowed me to explore and understand the world around me in a deeper way.
My approach to therapy is rooted in authenticity, understanding and empathy, for you to go on your personal journey there must be a therapeutic relationship between the therapist and the client only then I firmly believe change can take place.
Person-centred therapy is a humanistic. It places the individual client at the centre of the therapeutic process and emphasises their unique experiences, values, and perspectives.
In person-centred therapy, the therapist creates a safe and non-judgmental environment where the client feels accepted and understood. The therapist adopts a genuine and empathetic stance, seeking to develop a strong therapeutic relationship built on trust and mutual respect.
At present I work from my home in a confidential space when working online , and I have a safe space at Broadmead Community Church, Broadmead Ave, NN3 2QY where I see clients in person in Northampton.
Training, qualifications & experience
I've been working in a residential setting for over 25 years. I always felt my best self was working as a frontline Lead Support with young adults with mental health difficulties, dual diagnosis, emotional and behavioural difficulties, as well as learning difficulties.
My passion for helping young people and adults develop their abilities and confidence inspired me to pursue further training and in the past 5 years I have become a Person-Centred Counsellor.
Since April 2021, I've been on placement as a Trainee Counsellor for the Child Adolescent Bereavement Counselling Service for NHS. I continue to volunteer because I value what the service provides and believe it is really needed. They offer individual and group bereavement counselling to children and adolescents in the Northamptonshire area, in a school setting or at the NHS’s children’s out-patients department. I am proud to be part of this service.
I've been checked by the Disclosure and Barring Service and hold an enhanced DBS certificate for working with children and vulnerable adults. I am also covered by full professional indemnity insurance and comply with General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) requirements.
Qualifications/Training Relevant to Counselling and Working with children and young People:
- BA Honours in Psychology and Sociology
- Introduction to Transactional analysis with The Berne Institute
- BACP Certificate of Proficiency
- (Counselling & Psychotherapy Centre Awarding Body) Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling
- CPCAB Level 3 Certificate in Counselling Studies
- Certificate in Online and Telephone Counselling
- Completed NVQ Level 5 in Leadership and management Working with Children and Young people.
- Certified NVQ Level 4 in Health and Social Care
- Certified NVQ Level 4 in Registered Managers Award for Adults
- Certified NVQ Level 3 in Looking after Young Children
- Safeguarding/Child Protection
- Keeping children safe online (NSPCC)
- Equality and Diversity
- Seminar with Missing Persons Unit and RISE
- Attachment: Knowledge and practice with CAMHS -
- Child Sexual Exploitation,
- Flashbacks and Mental Capacity Act
- PTSD and Bulimia
- Deprivation of Liberty training
- Self-harm with young people
- Forming, storming, norming, performing and mourning
- Trauma-informed responses
- Mentalisation in Self Harm in Adolescence, UCL conference with Peter Fonagy
- Child protection
- CORC training, British Red Cross
- Boundaries and Structure & Attachment Theory
- Oliver McGowan training on Learning Disability and Autism
The following are some of the issues I have worked with in the last 25 years, by no means is this list exhaustive:
- Abuse
- ADHD
- Anger management
- Anxiety
- Asperger's syndrome
- Attachment disorder
- Attachment disorder in children
- Autism
- Behaviour problems
- Bereavement
- Borderline personality disorder
- Bullying
- Cancer
- Carer support
- Child related issues
- Child asylum seekers
- Childhood bereavement
- Childhood bullying
- Children’s learning difficulties
- Depression
- Depression and anxiety in children
- Disabilities
- Discrimination
- Emotional abuse
- Family issues
- Feeling sad
- Gender dysphoria
- Generalised anxiety disorder
- Infertility
- Learning difficulties
- Loneliness
- Low self-confidence
- Low self-esteem
- Narcissistic personality disorder
- Physical abuse
- Pregnancy and birth
- Relationship issues
- Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)
- Self-harm
- Separation anxiety
- Sexual abuse
- Sexuality
- Stress
- Suicidal thoughts
- Trauma
- Work-related stress
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
£47.50 - £67.50
Additional information
Business arrangements of our relationship.
Cost and payment:
The cost of each 60-minute session with the last 10 minutes for notes is £67.50 payable via BACS or with cash during the appointment.
Counselling students, including those that require a counsellor working in a person-centred modality, are charged at a flat rate: £47.50 per session. (Evidence from your training provider will secure this lower rate).
Please note: You must be taking a core practitioner training course in counselling. I cannot offer lower rates to those studying psychology, hypnotherapy, social work or coaching at this time and your course must be one year full-time or two years part-time where it is classroom based with at least 70% face to face tuition.
Fees will be reviewed annually. If you fail to pay or arrange payment for two consecutive sessions, you will not be able to schedule more until the debt is settled.
Cancellation:
If I am unwell or need to schedule a break in our work, I will provide as much notice as possible. If I cancel an appointment at short notice there will be no charge, and I will reschedule it. If you do not attend a session without providing notice, there will still be a charge.
If you give 7 days notice this would allow the community centre to work out the weekly plan for the room and give us time to reschedule without charge. However, if you cancel less than 48 hours before the appointment, in most cases you will be charged for the appointment. If you fail to attend any two appointments without prior notice, I will assume you no longer wish to continue, and our sessions will be brought to a close.
If there is a technical problem with an online session at either end, I will seek alternative ways to contact you (e.g., a phone call). If the session cannot go ahead for technical reasons, we will reschedule and there will be no charge.
Further information
The Key Principles of Person-Centred Therapy
Unconditional Positive Regard.
The therapist maintains a non-judgmental and accepting attitude toward the client, valuing them as a person regardless of their thoughts, feelings, or behaviours. This unconditional positive regard creates an atmosphere of acceptance, facilitating the client's self-exploration and growth.
Empathy.
The therapist strives to deeply understand the client's subjective experiences and perspectives, putting themselves in the client's shoes and reflecting their feelings and thoughts. This empathetic understanding helps the client gain insight into their own experiences and promotes self-acceptance and personal growth.
Congruence.
The therapist aims to be genuine, open, and authentic in their interactions with the client. They are encouraged to express their own feelings and thoughts appropriately, creating an atmosphere of honesty and transparency. By being congruent, the therapist models authenticity and encourages the client to be true to themselves.
In person-centred therapy, the client
The goals of person-centred therapy include enhancing self-esteem, promoting personal growth and self-actualisation, improving emotional well-being, and developing greater self-awareness and self-compassion. It is a collaborative approach where the therapist and client work together to identify and address the client's needs and goals.
Where necessary if the therapist senses more support is required, this will be discussed together with yourself and you will be signposted to the best place of relevance.
