About Me
Hello there. My name is Alex...
I am a counsellor, a psychotherapist, a son, a husband, a brother, an uncle, a friend, among many other things.
My friends and colleagues would probably say I am calm, trustworthy, and easy to talk to. My wife would probably say I am hard-working and 'a bit of a hippie,' which I wouldn't disagree with.
What I would say is that I see myself as an easy-going person, a simple guy. And that I am not very good at small talk. It's the meaningful conversations that do it for me. Have you heard of the term "DMC"? Neither had I. Apparently it means: Deep and Meaningful Conversation. Those are the ones I'm all up for.
I hold two Master’s degrees: one in Counselling and another one in Psychology. Professionally, I've been working as a therapist for over 8 years, helping people make sense of what is getting in the way of living the life they want. I love my job, if you want to know the truth.
Many of the inspiring people I have the privilege to work with, appear to be functioning well on the outside but are privately struggling with anxiety, self-doubt, relationship difficulties, or just a general sense that something feels off. Many times this is just because subconsciously they are carrying a lot of inner tension. A rucksack full of rocks, if you like.
I am a bit obsessed with quotes and stories (if we work together, I'm sure you'll hear quite a few of these). My favourite quote is:
"Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after." – Henry D. Thoreau
Genius!... Basically it means that we're always looking for the incorrect thing – possessions, achievements, fame, relationships – when in reality, all we really want is to be happy, at peace with ourselves. I can help you get there!
The therapy that I offer
Here's another one, Robert Frost: “The only way out is through.”
Many of the issues we struggle with on the surface (be it stress, low self-esteem, loneliness, or even anger problems), often stem from internal tensions we haven’t yet managed to face, to digest, if you like. Things we’re carrying but haven’t looked at directly.
In our sessions, we’ll aim to gently move towards those things so that we can give ourselves the opportunity to digest them properly. That’s where things will start to shift.
My approach to counselling
What works for one person may not work for another. Therefore, my approach is integrative, meaning that it is flexible and will adapt according to your needs. We will work together to identify the root source of the problems you’re dealing with, and I will help you to understand, clarify, and address whatever is happening in your life.
I draw from different approaches (psychodynamic, cognitive and humanistic) to adapt the therapy to you, your personality, your situation, and to what feels most useful for you.
My Qualifications
I am accredited with the BACP (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy). Keep in mind that 'accreditation' is a step above standard registration, recognising a higher level of training, experience and professional development.
I trained as a counsellor at the University of Northampton (MSc Counselling) in 2018 and later trained as a psychologist at BPP University London (MSc Psychology) in 2019.
I was enrolled in a Doctorate in Counselling Psychology (DCounsPsych) at the University of Manchester but decided to leave the course after I realised that, sadly, academia tends to interfere with the immediacy and simplicity that I believe need to shine at the core of counselling.
Areas I can help with
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Addiction and substance misuse
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ADHD
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Anger management
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Anxiety, overthinking, social anxiety and panic attacks
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Attachment styles
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Autism and neurodiversity
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Bereavement, grief and loss
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Depression and low mood
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Family issues
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LGBTQ+ counselling and identity
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Loneliness and social disconnection
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Low self-esteem and Imposter Syndrome
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Men's mental health
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OCD and perfectionism
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Relationships, breakup, affairs or general difficulties.
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Self-harm
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Separation and divorce
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Suicidal thoughts
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Trauma, PTSD and unresolved experiences
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Work-related stress and burnout
