Beth Wilkinson

Hello and welcome to my profile. My name is Beth or better known as “The Alternative Therapist”

Do you feel as if you never fit in? Are you neurodivergent? Or do you suspect you mingt be? Or perhaps you are the relative or partner to someone who is (or suspected to be) neurodivergent. Do you struggle with socialising, making friends or coping with work colleagues? Do you feel constantly stressed?

As a late diagnosed Autistic/ADHD individual, I’ve been there too. I know what its like to be different and feel like I don’t fit in. But talking about your problems with me can help. Together, we can figure out ways for you to cope and to feel better about yourself.

If you’re diagnosed, I can help you come to terms with your diagnosis. And if your not diagnosed, but suspect you mingt be, I can help you decide what your next steps in life may be. If you’re not neurodiverse, 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, LGBTQI+ 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.

• Neurodiversity
• Sexuality and Gender
• ENM/Poly Community
• Kink Aware

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 in advance via bank transfer.

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.