About me
Hi, I'm Lizzie.
I'm a fully qualified integrative counsellor, working with children, young people and adults in a safe, confidential space where you can talk about whatever is troubling you. We can work in person, online or by telephone. I can also offer walk-and-talk counselling sessions.
How counselling can help
When our thoughts, feelings and behaviours negatively impact our wellbeing, counselling sessions can provide an opportunity to gain insight, make positive changes and help you have more control of your life.
However, taking the steps to seek counselling can be challenging, as talking about painful and difficult emotions can feel both unsettling and overwhelming. Finding the right counsellor can be daunting, but by building a professional therapeutic relationship that is accepting and non-judgemental, I will help you feel supported, listened to, valued and understood.
As an integrative counsellor, I’m not tied to one way of working but can select the best approaches to suit the difficulties you may bring to each session. No matter how big or small your problems are, I’m here to support you.
My role is not to tell you what to do but to work alongside you and help you understand what drives your behaviour. We can explore how you relate to others and consider your options to make positive changes and feel more in control. The answers are within you.
Practice description
As an integrative counsellor, I tailor my approach to suit you and the issues you wish to bring by drawing on a range of theoretical approaches. I’m qualified to work with adults, children and young people. Sessions can take place either in person in a comfortable counselling room in Alton, Hampshire, online or on the telephone. I also offer walk and talk sessions.
In addition to my private practice, I also work as a counsellor in a charitable young people's counselling agency in Basingstoke.
I have experience in bereavement, loss and grief, and I volunteered with a national bereavement agency for many years, providing support to bereaved adults, young people and children.
I’ve worked with clients in my private practice for several years and have helped many clients with issues such as anxiety, anger, stress, depression, low mood, gender identity, sexuality, self-harm, neurodivergence, terminal illness, relationships, attachment issues and self-esteem, to name a few.
Sometimes it’s hard to put difficult experiences, thoughts and emotions into words. In these situations, I use creative approaches, such as cards, drawing, worksheets, sand trays, shells and stones, to help with the process. It can be particularly effective with young people, neurodivergent clients and those who encounter difficulties expressing themselves.
Initial assessment session
Finding a counsellor you can trust and connect with is essential for being able to explore your thoughts and feelings openly. An initial assessment session can be arranged at a convenient time for you, either online, via telephone or in person. Once an appointment has been arranged, I will hold this slot for you for 48 hours and send you the counselling agreement form, along with some other information about my counselling service before we meet.
The initial assessment session will be arranged at a convenient time for you, either online or in person. It will be an opportunity for you to ask any questions you may have about the counselling process, to get to know me better, and to ensure you feel comfortable with my way of working. A working agreement will be made between us. The session may include talking about past and present events, feelings, emotions, relationships, ways of thinking and patterns of behaviour. Talking about these things may take time, and we will go with what you feel comfortable with sharing. The assessment also helps to clarify suitability, assess your needs and whether I have the necessary levels of proficiency to work with the issues that you want help with. We will discuss the best approach to support you. There is no obligation to continue with further sessions if you do not want to.
Further sessions
If we continue to work together, we will review the sessions at agreed intervals (usually every 4-6 sessions) and discuss your progress and how you feel about your goals.
I offer short and long-term counselling.
Long-term counselling, or open-ended counselling, typically spans several months to years and provides a deeper, more expansive space to explore patterns, underlying issues, past experiences, and how they affect your life. The focus is often on gaining greater personal growth and understanding, self-awareness, and lasting change.
Short-term counselling, typically lasting between 6 and 12 sessions, focuses on specific, clearly defined goals that you want to achieve within a limited number of sessions. We'd work together on a particular issue or challenge and address practical strategies to help alleviate symptoms.
Sessions usually happen weekly at the same time and day, lasting 50 minutes. The fee for an initial assessment consultation and further counselling sessions is £50.
Training, qualifications & experience
Professional counselling qualifications
- Diploma in Attachment-Based Counselling Level 5 (CPCAB)
- Diploma in Counselling Children & Young People (11-18 years) – Level 5 (CPCAB)
- Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling - Level 4 (CPCAB)
- Counselling Studies Level 3 (CPCAB)
- Counselling Skills Level 2 (CPCAB)
- Transactional Analysis 101 (TA 101)
- Sandstory Therapy Level 1
Additional training:
- Cruse Bereavement Support Foundation Course
- Cruse Bereavement Support Children & Young People’s Module
- Emotional Literacy Support Assistant (ELSA training) - Hampshire Educational Psychology
- MA in Education
Prior to being a counsellor, I worked in the NHS as a clinical radiographer and university lecturer. I have worked even longer in teaching and pastoral roles within the education sector as an Emotional Literacy Support Assistant (ELSA).
I am a registered member of the BACP and hold an enhanced DBS certificate.
I am fully insured, ICO registered and have completed safeguarding training.
I regularly enhance my clinical skills through studying short courses and CPD workshops.
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
£50.00 per session
Additional information
Initial assessment consultation session: £50
All following sessions: £50
I accept payment in advance of each session via bank transfer and I ask for at least 24 hours' notice to cancel or rearrange a session.
When I work
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Further information
I am offering online, in-person, telephone and walk-and-talk sessions. Currently I am unavailable for sessions on Wednesday afternoon and evenings.
Please email or phone me if you have any further questions.
If you want to find out what I can offer, or take the first steps, and book an initial assessment consultation session, please get in touch.
