Alison O’Connor

Therapy

I am a BACP Accredited counsellor with 20 year’s experience of helping adults and young people make sense of life’s challenges. I have worked in the NHS, in the third sector and in private practice.

I offer a warm, collaborative approach, working with kindness to help people reflect on their lives and make the changes they want and need. I draw on a range of approaches including CBT, Compassion Focused Therapy and humanistic counselling. I have some additional training in Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, which uses mindfulness and emotional regulation to help people develop ways of coping with overwhelming feelings and reduce harmful behaviours. I offer Trauma-Focused CBT and the Rewind Technique, which are approaches to help overcome traumatic memories and experiences.

Much of my work has been in the field of complex trauma, with people recovering from difficult childhood experiences and also with military veterans and families. I am interested in moral injury and helping people recover from this.  I am experienced in working with anxiety, depression, difficulties with drugs and alcohol, adapting to life changing diagnoses, work-related stress and burnout and grief and loss.

I believe the Covid pandemic has impacted us all, in different ways, and having a space to reflect, recover and re-evaluate life, may be needed. I am keen to help adults, teenagers and young people find their way back. I firmly believe we are never too young or old to change and grow. 

I offer short- and long-term therapy. Sometimes, people find a few sessions are all they need to work things out and get back on track. For others, a longer-term approach may be helpful, particularly if difficulties have been there for a long time. The first session will be a chance for you to talk about how you have been feeling and what you may be hoping for. If we feel that I am not the right person to help you at this time, I will do my best to recommend some other options for you.

Supervision

I offer supervision and reflective practice for a range of professionals. I have a Masters in Consultative Supervision and am experienced at working with counsellors, therapists, nurses and other frontline staff as well as professionals in the corporate sector. I offer group and individual supervision, creating a space for people to reflect on their work, explore their current work-life balance and develop strategies to deepen their enjoyment of work and reduce stress.

Fees

• Individuals £60
• Young people (16+) £60
• Supervision £60 (1 hr) / £90 (1.5 hours)