Avril Allen - Integrative Psychotherapy

General Availability

Weekday Daytimes, Weekday Evenings

UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) Registered Psychotherapist - Humanistic and Integrative Therapist

I provide Telephone Counselling

Fee: Individuals £80.00

Approximate length of one Telephone appointment: 45 minutes
Approximate length of Telephone Counselling: from 4 to 52 sessions
Languages: English

I offer Private Psychotherapy Services for these Issues

Abuse, Addictions, Anger, Anxiety, Assertiveness, Bipolar Disorder, Bullying, Career Issues, Childhood Issues, Codependency, Creativity, Depression, Divorce, Grief, Identity, Integration of Experience, Lack of Meaning in Life, Loneliness, Loss, Low Self Confidence, Low Self Esteem, Marriage, Midlife Crisis, Obsessions, Panic Attacks, Personal Growth, Personal Relationships, Personality Difficulties, Phobias, Post Natal Depression (PND), Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Relaxation Training, Self Development, Smoking Addiction, Spirituality, Stress, Transitions, Trauma, Unresolved Issues, Workplace Issues and Work Relationship Problems

My Psychotherapy Therapeutic Approaches

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

Gender

Female

Clinical Experience in Psychotherapy

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.

What to Expect during Psychotherapy

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.

Clinical Qualifications in Psychotherapy

UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) Registered Psychotherapist - Humanistic and Integrative Therapist since March 1987
UKCP Accredited Training Integrative Psychotherapy - Psychosynthesis and Education (PET) Trust London (UK) 1987

I am committed to Continuing Professional Development (CPD) in Psychotherapy. I abide by the Code of Ethics of the UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) and the Code of Ethics of the Psychosynthesis and Education (PET) Trust London.

Additional Information

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.

If you have a question not answered on my web profile, please contact me via the green Contact Me button.

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Thank you. Avril Allen.