Beth Wilkinson
Every professional displayed on Counselling Directory has been independently verified by our team to ensure they have suitable credentials to practise.
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
Hello and welcome to my profile. My name is Beth or better known as “The Alternative Therapist”
Are you alternative? Do you feel as if you don't fit the the "norm" for counselling? Perhaps you are neurodivergent or coming to terms with your queer identity?
Do you struggle with socialising, making friends, feeling isolated and like nobody understands you?
As a neurodivergent, queer and above all alternative individual - I've been there too. I understand how it feels to be different and not fit in - especially in the therapy room .. but I can help... Together we can explore your most authentic self and build your self worth.
Deciding the next steps in your life to live as you is important, I can support you on your journey to evolve into the most authentic version of yourself.
If you’re not neurodiverse, alternative or queer, but have family or friends who are and want some support, then I can help you with that too.
Who Am I?
I am an integrative therapist which means that I work hard to make sessions developed to your needs as a client and pride myself in helping clients to develop their own therapeutic toolkit to empower themselves long after the therapeutic process has ended. Like many therapists, I entered into this profession after receiving my own therapy and seeing first hand the difference it made in my life.
I am a registered member of the BACP (British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy) with a BA (Hons) in Counselling and Psychotherapy. I have 10+ years of experience working within support services, beginning my therapeutic journey to support others in 2020.
My Therapy Practice & Clients
My practice ‘The Alternative Therapist’ was born a few years ago during university when I realised that very few therapists in practice looked like me or shared my lifestyle choices. I have created my therapy space for individuals who also feel like this, like they don’t fit in conventional therapy rooms and want to talk to somebody they can relate to, not only emotionally but within their style and personal preferences.
My Experience
My personal experiences which have led me into this profession have given me extensive knowledge in bereavement, sexual abuse, depression, self-harming behaviours, trauma, domestic violence, workplace bullying, LGBTQIA+ issues and neurodiversity.
This has both enhanced my understanding and sparked passions for working within these areas therapeutically. My hope for clients is that they learn to embrace what makes them different and shine through it.
I have 10 plus years of working with neurodiverse adults within supported living sectors and 3 years of working with parents and domestic violence survivors through my counselling placements during university. I have also taken part in extensive training including autism, domestic violence, sexual trauma, working therapeutically online, relationships and suicide prevention.
As a queer neurodivergent (ASD/ADHD) therapist working with adults, I welcome clients from all walks of life, with the knowledge that neurodiversity often brings mental health issues alongside them.
How Can Therapy Help?
Therapy processes differ for everyone and I aim to help you feel comfortable, heard and safe within this therapeutic journey we will embark upon together. For you, this could mean taking control of your relationships, exploring boundaries, building confidence and self-esteem, challenging yourself, finding your goals or processing emotions. Working together enables you to understand your own needs and get the best out of your therapeutic process.
Training, qualifications & experience
I hold further training in areas including:
- Abuse
- Anxiety Disorders
- Autism, ADHD and other Neurodiversities
- Alzheimers Disease and Demenia
- Bereavement and Loss
- Certificate in Online and Telephone Therapy
- Creative Therapy
- Childhood & Adult Sexual Abuse
- Child & Adult Safeguarding
- Depression
- Domestic Violence
- Dissociation
- Eating Disorder Awareness & ARFID
- LGBTQIA+ & Identity Issues
- Neglect
- PTSD & C-PTSD
- Relationships & Family Relations
- Stalking
- Shame
- Substance Misuse
- Suicide & Self Harm
- Trauma
I hold particular training, development and lived experience of the difficulties that individuals with ASD and ADHD can face.
I want my clients to achieve long-lasting positive change, believing that therapy changes lives and having personally experienced the benefits of having a safe and confidential space to explore deeper thoughts and feelings.
Continuous Professional Development is very important to me and I participate in regular learning opportunities and courses to ensure my knowledge is always of high standards and up to date.
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
Other areas of counselling I deal with
- Neurodiversity
- Sexuality and Gender
- ENM/Poly Community
- Kink Aware
Therapies offered
Fees
£40.00 - £45.00
Free initial telephone session
Concessions offered for
Additional information
I believe that therapy should be accessible to everyone and offer reduced fees for students and those on reduced incomes with proof of study or certain benefits, fees for these individuals are set at £40 per hour, whereas my normal fees are set at £45 per hour. Please note that the concessions I offer are subject to proof of eligibility at the time of our initial session.
Please note - All session payments are taken within 24 hours of sessions via bank transfer.
Please note - I currently do not have anymore availability on Fridays however this is subjective to change.
When I work
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morning | |||||||
| Afternoon | |||||||
| Evening | |||||||
| Night |
I set aside a limited number of evening sessions for individuals who may benefit from them, if this sounds like you then please get in touch to discuss availability.
Further information
What Makes Me Different To Other Therapists?
As a neurodiverse (ASD/ADHD), queer therapist I seek to meet your needs by offering integrative therapy which can also be looked at as a blended approach of different therapies put together.
How I work and How Therapy Can Help You
Being an integrative therapist I work with different therapeutic approaches to design bespoke session packages fitted to your needs. This means I will see you as a whole individual, taking into consideration your mental, physical and emotional health needs. By using tools from different modalities of therapy I can tailor a bespoke approach for you. I aim to build trusting, non-judgemental relationships encouraging your self-awareness to develop. Once you understand your own behavioural triggers, I can be confident you will set goals and develop new behaviours to improve your overall life satisfaction.
Some approaches I work with include Person Centred Therapy, CBT, Gestalt Therapy and Creative Therapy through Zoom.
I Wish To Start Therapy - What Are The Next Steps?
Please contact me to arrange your free 20 minute telephone initial consultation which gives you the opportunity to understand how I work and ask any further questions. If your still unsure about your needs I’d be happy to discuss this further to help you access the support that’s right for you.
When you contact me I will aim to respond within 48 hours and will invite you to engage in the telephone appointment to discuss how your feeling and what you hope to gain from therapy. If you wish to engage in therapy with me, I will send you a therapy agreement to read and sign before our first session which outlines how we will work together and keeps us both safe. From here we can look at an appointment date and time which works for you each week.
Engaging in regular sessions is important in building a safe therapeutic relationship together.
What Role Do Therapists Play?
My role as a therapist is to provide a safe, confidential space for you to speak about what you are going through in life. By attending therapy I can help you to explore your thoughts, feelings and behaviours aiding your self-understanding and understanding of others. Whilst I cannot give you advice or prescribe medications, I can help you to find your own solutions.
This can be through making effective life changes or finding coping strategies. As your therapist I will listen to you without judgement and help you explore your thoughts and emotions, my aim is to always make you feel comfortable and able to share openly.
