The best way to contact me is to email me at the address below and tell me a bit about what’s going on for you.
Phone – 07716 639383
Email – info@e17counselling.co.uk
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Location
E17 Counselling is situated on a residential road in Walthamstow Village, less than 5 minutes’ walk from Walthamstow Central (Victoria line and overground) and well served by local buses. There is also parking available for car drivers by prior arrangement.
The counselling room is in a quiet house. I do not have a waiting room so clients are asked not to arrive until their allocated appointment time to avoid disturbing other clients.
Therapy FAQ & Fees
What is counselling / therapy?
“Counselling” and “psychotherapy” are terms that are often used interchangeably. Some feel that counselling refers to short-term work and psychotherapy to working at depth on an open-ended basis, but generally both are umbrella terms that cover a range of talking and listening based methods of addressing psychological issues.
Through the process of talking – and being heard – in a safe, confidential space, we can gain a better understanding of our past and present conflicts, learn to appreciate and utilise our own resources and explore new perspectives and ways of being in the world. This might involve clarifying opportunities for growth and change, or, conversely, exploring and coming to terms with those areas we are unable or unwilling to change.
What is ‘psychodynamic’?
“Psycho” refers to the mind, and “dynamic” refers to the dynamic between our unconscious minds and how they impact our conscious behaviour; or to put it another way, how our pasts, which we may have long forgotten, still impact our thoughts and feelings in the present.
While some therapies focus on ‘how’ to address blocks and solve problems, psychodynamic therapy concentrates on the question why… “Why do I feel like this?” “Why do I keep having these same problems?!” Through the process of examining why, we can gain greater understanding of the different aspects of ourselves and improved self-knowledge which can offer welcome relief and the possibility of change.
What can I expect from the first meeting?
The very first session will be an initial consultation and will last between 60 and 90 minutes. During this time, we will get a sense of each other and you can tell me all about yourself and why you’re seeking counselling at this time. I will make some written notes during this session but this will be the only time I will make notes during our time together. You can also ask any questions you may have about the counselling process. If, at the end of this meeting, you would like to proceed with further sessions, we will then set the day, time and cost of our future meetings.
What about the other sessions?
If, after the initial consultation, you decide to proceed with regular sessions, each session will be 50 minutes in length and will take place on a weekly basis, at the same time each week. This is your time, so sessions are client led and will focus on whatever is on your mind that week.
During our discussions together, I will assume the position of a trained ‘co-explorer’ of what is going on for you. No one is more of an expert on you than you are, but I may help to understand what is just out of sight, or bring your attention to recurring patterns of behaviour, forming links between seemingly disparate areas of your life. I won’t tell you what to do but instead will help you towards making the right life choices for you. Ultimately, my aim is to make myself redundant in your life!
Are our sessions confidential?
Absolutely. I am bound by the ethical standards of the BACP. As such, I am required to attend regular supervision sessions with a qualified professional and may discuss our work together in this context, though your identity will not be disclosed.
In accordance with the BACP Ethical Framework for Good Practice in Counselling and Psychotherapy, I may be required to break our confidentiality agreement in the event that your life, or the life of someone else is in imminent danger.
How do I start?
To begin the process, simply email me at the address on the contact page, telling me a little bit about yourself and why you are seeking counselling
I will respond within two days and invite you for an initial consultation at my practice in Walthamstow, E17.
Fees
My standard fee is £70 per initial consultation followed by £70 per 50 minute session.
Services
Counselling is an opportunity to meet with a professional on a regular basis to talk about yourself and any difficulties you may be experiencing. As a therapist, I won’t tell you what to do, or hijack the conversation by talking about similar experiences I’ve had. What I will do is listen and offer a confidential, non-judgemental space where your thoughts and feelings can be explored.
Open-Ended Therapy
There is no fixed finishing point with open-ended therapy and often there is no single issue in mind. Rather, the client wants to explore enduring behavioural patterns, work out what makes them ‘tick’, and create a greater understanding and sense of well-being in their lives, improving their sense of agency and capacity for personal choice.
Short-Term Counselling
I offer short-term counselling of 12 sessions which focuses on one specific area of difficulty and tends to be more goal-orientated than open-ended therapy.
Often these sessions offer the client a more directive and practical approach. If you are unsure whether short-term or long-term therapy is right for you, we can explore this together.
Online Counselling
Not everyone can attend sessions in person, but still need a safe and confidential space in which to talk about their problems. I am experienced in delivering online sessions, which means you can still access the support you need via Zoom, a secure video platform.
When you contact me, I will offer you an initial consultation and send you a unique link to our secure online counselling room. This consultation is an opportunity for us to meet and discuss what’s going on for you and why you are seeking counselling at this time. If you choose to commence with regular sessions, we will then agree a regular weekly timeslot and I will send you a link to our weekly sessions.
It is important for online counselling to find a quiet, private space for your session where you feel safe and will not be disturbed. You will also need a good internet signal and I recommend closing other apps on your device to avoid any online distractions during our time together.
For more information, please see Therapy FAQs or contact me here
For more information, please see Therapy FAQs or contact me here
About Me
I’m Alison, a BACP registered counsellor and therapist
I have always been fascinated by human behaviour and curious about what motivates us. After 15 years of creating characters and telling stories within my role as a script editor and writer for TV drama, circumstances led me to seek therapy to manage symptoms of burn out. Having the support of a therapist and somewhere confidential to explore what was going on for me was transformative. Soon after, I decided to leave the hectic world of television and re-train to become a therapist. I wanted to live more authentically and connect with who I really was, and I became passionate about supporting others who are ready to embrace a new perspective.
Now I run a private practice in East London, as well as working at a counselling centre in North London and as a psychotherapist for the LGBT Asylum programme at Mind, Islington. As a member of the British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists, I am bound by their ethical framework, including attending regular supervision and ongoing professional and personal development.
About Therapy
My role, as a therapist, is to provide a safe, non-judgemental and confidential space, to help you to explore your thoughts and feelings in ways that promote new insight and self-awareness; and to support you as you work towards greater self-understanding.
Talking about how you feel – and being really heard – is at the heart of therapy and may be enough in itself. In fact, research shows that it is the relationship between the client and the therapist that can have the most impact on change. Beyond this, it can be helpful to consider unhelpful life patterns and gain new insight into habitual ways of thinking and behaving. Therapy can help you to take stock and re-evaluate how you live your life, and how you engage in the world and with the people around you. Working together, we can explore the things that matter to you, where you are now, where you would like to be, and how you can work towards getting there.
My background and training is in psychodynamic therapy. Loosely speaking, psychodynamic therapy focuses on how the past impacts the present and how unconscious memories and influences affect conscious thought and feelings. However, my work is driven by my clients’ needs and every client is different. I am committed to meeting you where you are now and to working in a way that feels right for you.