Avril Hollings

I am working with individuals and couples in person, online (via Zoom) and by phone.

I am a UKCP Registered Psychotherapist with over twenty five years experience of working with clients in private practice in North London and in the voluntary sector. I'm also an experienced, accredited Supervisor. My practice is at The Angel Islington, North London.

Most of us will have difficult times in life, perhaps with our relationships or health, almost certainly with loss. There may be times we feel stuck or that something isn't working. We may struggle with being ourselves and expressing who we are or feel our life's lost meaning. We may know why we're struggling or we may not understand.

When might Counselling or Psychotherapy help?

Having someone to talk things over with, build on our coping strategies and to explore a way  forward with can help. Psychotherapy and counselling can offer a safe space to do this with a trained professional. I work with clients to build a relationship where it's possible to talk and think about issues, explore ways to cope and help them find a way forward.

Clients bring a wide range of issues including: relationships, stress, anxiety, depression, loss, trauma, creativity, personal development, work related issues, sexuality and sexual orientation.

How does it work and where do I start?

We'd begin with an initial conversation to discuss your current situation, what you are looking for, whether and how psychotherapy or counselling might help at this point. If it seemed that it could we would generally arrange an initial session. 

Initial exploratory session

The first appointment is an exploratory session which is an opportunity for us to talk about your situation and what you're looking for and for us to explore together whether and how we might work together. It can be a time to begin to map out the goals, time frame and focus for our work or, if working together didn't seem the most useful option, I may be able to suggest others.

I charge my usual fee for this session.

Please email me at avrilhollings@virginmedia.com or call me on  020 8444 0670 (confidential practice number) or if you'd like to discuss or make an appointment. 

I offer daytime and evening appointments.

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• How many sessions will I need?

If we decide to work together we'll discuss and agree the focus for our work and how long we'll work for. This will depend on your situation and what you would like to address. We may decide to work for a fixed amount of time, on an open ended basis, or start by working together for six weeks and then review how the sessions are going and whether to end or continue our work together for longer. 

Each session is for 60 minutes. Generally sessions are weekly, though there can be some flexibility to accommodate individual circumstances.

• Are the sessions confidential?

Yes, they are. It's important to feel able to talk freely and in confidence in your sessions. I'll explain the extent and limits of confidentiality at the start of our work together.
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Couples Counselling

I'm working with couples in person and online. For online sessions you need to have a safe and private space in which to have the session and both be in front of the same camera.

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Many couples seek counselling at a point of crisis or when they've exhausted their own resources to deal with an issue, others because they want a safe place to talk about their relationship or to lay solid foundations for the future. Relationships benefit from support.

Couples Counselling can provide a safe space to discuss what are often difficult issues. It can help couples become more aware of dynamics and patterns within their relationship and to increase their resources in dealing with these. I work with couples on a range of issues including: communication, anger and conflict, intimacy and sex, difference, changes in the stage or circumstances of the relationship, cheating and betrayal, separation and renegotiating their relationship.

I have over 20 years experience working with couples in my private practice and seven years experience as a Couples Counsellor at PACE, an LGBT Mental Health Charity. My work with couples is both short term (6-12 sessions), and longer term depending on the couples situation and needs. We begin by having an exploratory session which is an opportunity to meet, discuss what brings you and explore whether and how we might work together. I'm experienced working with both heterosexual and LGBTQ couples.

If you would like to talk with me about Couples Counselling or make an appointment please email: avrilhollings@virginmedia.com or call me on 020 8444 0670 

Supervision

I'm a clinical supervisor for counsellors, psychotherapists and clinical psychologists working in a range of settings and with diverse client groups. I offer individual and small group supervision and work with both trainees and qualified practitioners. I've been supervising since 2002. For more information please see the Supervision section of this website or go to www.avrilhollings.com

• Family Issues
• Personal Development
• Meaning of life and a lack of meaning
• Mindfulness
• Midlife issues
• Creativity
• Diversity and difference in families
• Sexual Orientation
• Gender Identity
• Diversity and difference

Individuals  £80                    Couples  £95                Supervision  £75


Daytime and Evening appointments offered. All sessions are for 60 minutes.

Practice Access, Travel and Parking

City Road Therapy is less than 10 minutes walk from Angel tube station and 10 minutes from Old Street tube both of which are on the Northern Line. Old Street overground station is a ten minute walk away and Kings Cross St Pancras is a 20 minute walk.

Buses 4, 19, 30, 38, 43, 56, 73, 153, 205, 214, 243 and 274 pass the building or stop at Angel tube station.

There is no parking available at the practice but there are pay and display bays on Elia Street and Colebrooke Row.

Unfortunately the building is not wheelchair accessible.