Louise McAleese

If you are ready for the support of a counsellor to explore how you can feel better, fulfil your potential, and improve your well-being then I offer face to face professional counselling in Balderton.  Friendly, confidential, patient, non-judgemental and empathetic support with any issues that are impacting adversely on your life.  Therapy for children, young people, adults, any ability and older people. 

Fees can be paid by direct bank transfer or cash at the beginning of the session

As a qualified, experienced counsellor I would be privileged to support you, so that you are not alone on your journey of change towards feeling more positive and happier in yourself.

I am a qualified, insured, enhanced DBS cleared and registered therapist. Having had many years of supporting others in and out of the therapy environment I offer my vast experience to support you to overcome any issues that are having a negative impact on your wellbeing. The type of therapies I utilise are a combination of many to suit your needs and situation.  This could include person centred therapy, psychodynamic, CBT or transitional analysis.  I have experience of providing therapy in schools for both children and parents and for any age range in my private practice in Balderton. 

As unique beings in a world of challenges many of us experience unwanted experiences and feelings at some points that are hard to manage alone.   I provide sessions in a non-judgmental comfortable, safe, confidential, supportive environment, where I can be with you and help you make some sense of your story.   Your concerns will be addressed at your pace with you deciding on the length of therapy you require.

Some of the issues that I have experience of supporting individuals with are bullying, self-harming, self-esteem, depression, anxiety, bereavement, identity issues, relationships, trauma, illness and disabilities, abuse including sexual, emotional, and physical, and any other issues that evoke negative and painful feelings.  When you feel ready to move forward I would feel privileged to be with you on your journey to feeling more positive and in control of your life.

To help you decide if it’s the right time for you to enter therapy and that I am the right therapist for you please contact me for a free initial chat.

My office/therapy room is based at a private address in Balderton with parking. Home visits could be arranged if necessary. 

Therapy Testimonies (Anonymised)

1 Testimony of a lady re self-esteem and anxiety

Morning Louise, So sorry it’s taken me so long to do this. Seeing Louise for counselling really helped me understand my feelings, why i was feeling the way I was and how to manage the feelings. Her knowledge and understanding really put me at ease. I would really like at some point to continue it. I would definitely recommend Louise for anybody struggling to go and see her. Hope this is ok I’m not very good at writing down how I feel. 

2 Testimony from a grandmother re her granddaughter (teenager)

I watched my Granddaughter struggling to make sense and cope with her world. It had a very negative impact on her school and everyday life, and I was extremely concerned about her emotional wellbeing. Following her first Counselling session she seemed "lighter" somehow and subsequent visits have proven to be very positive. She's happier and asked for further sessions, she feels she really needs them. She needed to be heard.

3 Testimony from a lady re domestic violence

I found myself in a very frightening and confusing situation, I had lost my direction and belief in myself and consequently my self-esteem was at an all time low. I am a victim of domestic violence. Moving forward with the support of counselling with Louise I am now working at;

Focusing on myself and my needs
Acknowledging my fears and concerns
Working through deeply held negative beliefs.

Opening my eyes and for the first time in a very very long time seeing what is really around me and acknowledging the effects both positive and negative that this has on me. Slowing I am felling stronger I do have good and bad times but no longer feel as desperate as I did knowing that I have the counselling support is a real lifeline. Thank you

4 Testimony from a teenager re bereavement of father

Thank you so much with my bereavement counselling it helped a lot. Love from….

5 Testimony from a mother 

Louise has spent the last few months supporting my 10-year-old son, both in her private practise and at school. He was finding managing his emotions incredibly difficult after a combination of lock down and huge changes to his routine. This manifested itself in constant negative language about himself, some physical self-harming and frequent rage episodes. Despite trying many different strategies at home, we knew he needed some outside intervention as he asked us for help, and we reached out to school during the summer holidays. They put us in touch with Louise and we met for an initial meeting. Louise was incredibly supportive of everything we had already put in place and listened to our concerns and worries without judgement. She then began the weekly sessions with him, sending home resources to support him. He looked forward to his sessions and would talk openly about how they made him feel better. Just having that independent person to listen to his worries, allow him to understand that it was OK to feel those negative emotions and work with him to find ways to manage these that he could take ownership over made the world of difference. He stated that the sessions helped him feel happier, helped him cope when he felt angry and gave him strategies to manage his emotions.

Louise let us know when the sessions were coming to an end but reassured us that we could re refer if needed. We cannot thank her enough for the support she gave our family, and we now have our happy little boy back.

6 Testimony from a partner re suicide attempt

Hello, I just wanted to say a big thankyou from …  (child) and myself for getting ……. to open up in the first place and listening and helping him/her. It's nice to see the black cloud lifting from him/her and he/she is more like the person I met and married. …… has their best mum/dad back! So hopefully a brighter future for us all. Thank you so much.

7 Testimony from a parent

Hello, I have recently been able to attend counselling at Barnby Road Academy in Newark. My son attends the school and I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to have some sessions at a time I needed them most. Whilst counselling in itself is a very worthwhile experience and I have more than benefitted from it and feel so much better in myself. The fact it is easily accessible in the school to staff, children and families is a wonderful service to be able to offer and support the community with. It feels a little easier walking into the Happy and bright environment of the school rather than a medical centre. After the two years we have all experienced I feel it can only be a positive experience and so many more people could tap into counselling if it were more integrated into our daily lives. I think it is a huge plus on every level. Thank you

8 Testimony re: anxiety 

To whom it may concern. I have had three sessions with Louise who has helped me when I was not dealing with my issues which arose when returning from work in Afghanistan to the breakup of my 10-year relationship.  She listened to me as I released my frustration and helped me realise that things were going to be different but ok.  She is a credit to her profession, and I look forward to future sessions.

9 Testimony from a mother of a 13-year-old girl with behaviour problems in school.

Just to say I honestly can’t thank you enough these past few weeks have really helped her make better choices in school.  I feel like she’s back to her normal self. Thank you, take care, if she ever needs it again, I will be straight to you and recommend you to my friends.

10 Testimony from an adult with anxiety

I can’t thank you enough for your support, listening to me properly and understanding me has really helped me manage a lot of the anxiety that has plagued me for a long time.  I wish I tried therapy sooner. Thank you.