Lou Allen

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she/her
Integrative Counsellor, Adv Dip (MBACP Accredited); BEd

About me

I'm an Integrative Counsellor with over twenty years experience supporting people of all ages through many of life's most difficult times. I offer a calm, non-judgemental, safe space where we can explore whatever has brought you to counselling.  

Many of my clients come to me, looking for help navigating anxiety, loneliness, relationship issues, trauma, loss, chronic illness, neurodiversity and parenting.

 My practice is shaped by my belief that we all need support at times, and we all deserve to feel heard, respected, understood and supported. My job is to listen, encouraging you to explore and understand how your patterns may be causing you difficulties and impacting on your well-being. Some of my interventions help you to understand unconscious patterns of behaviour and this awareness can help you reconnect with your inner strengths and resources.

I have worked in the counselling profession for two decades, both in the voluntary sector and in private practice. My Integrative training enables me to use a range of approaches and modalities, adapting to your individual needs, creating a supportive, collaborative approach. I may use interventions from Gestalt, Transactional Analysis (TA), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) as well as suggesting creative work, such as, writing, images, sand tray, chair work. However, my support is client-led, with optional interventions that I may suggest.

I offer short or long term support, either weekly or fortnightly, depending on what works best for you. In addition to face to face and online sessions.

Alongside my private practice, I volunteer with St Wilfred's Hospice, supporting individuals living at home, in hospital and in care settings. I am also trained as an End of Life Doula and a Soul Midwife, offering gentle, holistic support to people approaching end of life and to those who love and care for them. This work has shaped my therapeutic approach profoundly, grounding it in compassion for each person's unique experience.

I also co-host a local Death Cafe, where people meet monthly to talk openly about death and dying.

It's important to find a counsellor you feel comfortable with, so I offer a free, no obligation, 20 minute discovery call. Please contact me by email or text to arrange a time that works for you.

As a Registered Member of the British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists, I follow their Code of Ethics, confidentiality and good practice. I have regular supervision from a highly qualified supervisor to support my practice and I attend regular professional development and training.

Training, qualifications & experience

Profesional Qualifications:

  • Advanced Diploma in Integrative Counselling, BACP Accredited. 2008
  • Certificate Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) 2009
  • Certificate Relationship & Couple Counselling, 2012
  • Diploma in Clinical Supervision, 2013
  • Cert Supervision, Cruse Bereavement Care Exeter, 2010
  • BEd Degree (Primary)

End of Life & Bereavement Training

  • Diploma Soul Midwifery 2025
  • Foundation End of Life Doula 2023
  • Bereavement Support for Children & YP (CRUSE) 2010
  • Bereavement Support Adults (CRUSE) 2008

Experience:

  • Private practice as a counsellor since 2010 
  • Clinical Supervisor 2010 - 2020

Counselling Experience in the Voluntary Sector

  • Supervisor to groups and individual Cruse volunteers 2010-2013
  • Bereavement Support to adults (Cruse) 2008 - 2013
  • Counsellor at Compass House, Exeter NHS Mental Well-Being & Access (anxiety & depression)
  • General Counsellor with adults at Margaret Jackson Centre, Exeter
  • School Counsellor at South Dartmoor Community College

Professional Membership:

Registered Member of BACP (British Association of Counselling & Psychotherapy)

Member of End of Life Doula UK : Doula in training

Member organisations

BACP
British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy (BACP)

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

British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy
Accredited Register Scheme

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.

British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy

Areas of counselling I deal with

Other areas of counselling I deal with

CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) can help clients with anxiety, negative thinking and low self-esteem.

I am a trained Mindfulness teacher and research shows that regular practice can be very helpful for a range of issues, such as low mood, anxiety, negative thoughts, busy minds, work overload and stress. 

I may suggest creative ways of exploration in the session, using a range of materials, such as images, writing, sand tray, chair work, sculpting and drawing, but this will always be your decision.

As well as training with Living Well Dying Well in Lewes, I have completed my Diploma training as a Soul Midwife with Felicity Warner. I am a volunteer with St Wilfred's Hospice and visit patients who have a terminal illness, in their homes, hospital or care home.

Therapies offered

Photos & videos

Fees

£55.00 per session

Concessions offered for

  • Low income
  • OAPs
  • Trainee counsellors
  • Unemployed

Additional information

£55 per 50 minute session

I have a limited number of concessionary places for people on a low income - please ask if you think this may apply to you.

When I work

Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
Early morning
Morning
Early afternoon
Late afternoon
Evening

Further information

I see clients on Fridays in my beautiful summerhouse counselling room in my garden, next to a willow tree. There is always plenty of space to park outside the house.

I also see clients in a therapy room at Natural Fitness & Therapies, The Redoubt, Royal Parade on Tuesdays

Eastbourne, East Sussex, BN20

Natural Fitness & Therapies Centre, The Redoubt, Royal Parade, Eastbourne, East Sussex, BN22 7QA

Type of session

In person
Online
Phone

Types of client

Young adults (18-24)
Adults (25-64)
Older Adults (65+)

Key details

DBS check

In England and Wales, the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS, formerly known as CRB) carry out criminal records checks for individuals working with vulnerable groups, such as children. To find out more, visit gov.uk , or contact this professional directly

There are 5 steps leading to the counselling room in the garden at BN20. The Natural Fitness & Therapy Centre is accessible

Online platforms

Whatsapp
Zoom

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