Avril Allen BA (Hons) Counselling Psychology UKCP Reg HPC

Abuse, Addictions, Anger, Anxiety, Assertiveness, Bereavement, Bipolar Disorder, Bullying, Career Issues, Childhood Issues, Codependence, Confidence Issues, Couple Relationships, Creativity, Depression, Divorce, Fear, Grief, Hysteria, Identity, Inhibitions, Integration of Experience, Lack of Meaning in Life, Loneliness, Loss, Marriage (Marital relations), Midlife Crisis, Obsessions, Panic Attacks, Personal Growth, Personal Relationships, Personality Difficulties, Phobias, Post Natal Depression (PND), Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Psychosomatic Symptoms, Rape, Self Development, Self Esteem, Sexual Abuse, Sleeping Problems, Smoking Addiction, Spirituality, Stress, Transitions, Trauma, Unresolved Issues, Work Issues and Relationships

Brief Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Cognitive Therapy, Integrative Therapy, Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP), Person Centred Therapy, Psychodynamic Therapy, Rational Emotive Behavioural Therapy (REBT), Solution Focused Therapy, Systemic Therapy, Transpersonal Therapy

Female

I have twenty two years experience as a counsellor and psychotherapist via face to face, telephone and internet counselling and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT).

I currently work in private practice and for Employee Assistance Providers (EAPs).

My background includes working in an NHS psychiatric hospital; supervisor and training therapist for the Psychosynthesis & Education Trust, along with two years on the assessment team for their counselling service, assessing suitability and matching new clients with students or experienced therapists. I am qualified to help you assess the best approach at this time in your life.

For ten years I designed and facilitated art therapy groups for the public where “lack of technical ability was an advantage!"

I am involved in delivery of online CBT to NHS patients with depression and anxiety for a Bristol University research trial which is going well.

Meet me for face to face counselling, psychotherapy or telephone counselling, and internet counselling or CBT so geography is not a problem.

I am also experienced in neuro linguistic programming (NLP) as well as personal and professional life coaching.

Whether brief therapy, CBT, or an on-going psychodynamic basis, I am interested in your well-being and who you want to be.

In dealing with stress, anxiety, phobias, crises, life transitions or life balance, brief therapy (approx six to twelve sessions) may suffice. This means focusing on particular issues, mainly in the present and strategies for the future.

Cognitive approaches such as CBT and NLP are based on the theory that the way you think affects the way you feel and your perception of life in general. You can change habitual negative or unhelpful thinking patterns and behaviours, and learn more positive, useful ones. Consequently you feel happier, more peaceful or resourceful and your view of life will be more positive.

For some issues where your past history and relationships have been damaging or failed to nurture your personal development, psychotherapy may be called for.

This involves insight into what is unconsciously influencing or driving you - aspects you are unaware of in your everyday, rational mind. For example you may say "I cannot understand why I continually do X or Y as it makes me unhappy". This exploration and healing from the past takes longer and time for trust to be built in our relationship will be essential.

We will gradually explore the dynamics in the relationship between you and other people and also the internal dynamics of your mind and the way it works. This is called "psychodynamic" therapy.

I can accompany you on this journey for as long as you need me to be there.

I do believe that self-esteem arises from understanding, acceptance and mastery of the mind and it is a privilege to collaborate with my clients on these endeavours.

"Wherever you are is always the right place. There is never a need to fix anything, to hitch up the bootstraps of the soul and start at some higher place. Start right where you are." Julia Cameron.

Health Professions Council (HPC)
MBACP Accredited Supervisor
UKCP Registered Psychotherapist
Cert. of Mentor Training, Kent Business School, Univ. of Kent
Coach Training Program Graduate (CTP)
Training in online therapy
NLP Advanced Practitioner (JSA)
Dip EH P NLP (BHR)with distinction 1996
Training in cognitive and solution focused brief therapy
Post-graduate Diploma in Art therapy 1987
Diploma Psychosynthesis 1986
BA (Hons) 1st class, counselling psychology 1985

I have a dedicated study in which you will be uninterrupted. Though close to the town centre the building is in a peaceful environment with parking space. It is on a hill so may be difficult to access on foot if you have mobility problems. Once you arrive, there is just one step to access the treatment room on ground floor.

You might like to give telephone or internet a trial with no obligation to continue if it doesn’t work for you. Use the 'Contact Me' link above - I will call you back.