Ali Bushell

PLEASE NOTE: I currently do not have space for new long-term clients - if you are interested in working with me in the future please contact me and I can add you to my waiting list.

I have limited virtual capacity and offer these sessions to people who cannot physically reach me (people living in different cities or countries).

If you would like a walk in or single session please get in touch with me with either “walk in” or “SST” in the subject line.

My calendar is available on my website, scroll through to see free times that you can request, if you're unclear about this just contact me and we can arrange something. My practice hours are: 

Mondays to Thursday - 1.30pm to 7pm

Friday - 1.30 to 5pm

Please be advised I only work within these times, I do not work at weekends.

Deciding whether you can work with someone in what can be an intimate and vulnerable relationship like that of the client / therapist is something that needs to be considered and must feel right to you. Having had seven years of therapy myself with several counsellors and psychotherapists I definitely appreciate being apprehensive of contacting someone for the first time, and wanting someone to help me soon. I know what it’s like to be in your shoes. 

So what can I say to help put you at ease? What kind of person am I? The easiest way to describe it would be to simply say that I’m a good listener - people feel like they can talk to me, but also that they want to. I’m non-judgemental, curious and interested to know what is happening for my clients and I don’t look to place labels on them or pathologise their behaviour. I’m highly able to understand and connect with the emotions of others, I’m open and transparent in my approach but also able to be analytical about what is happening too.

I also think it’s important for clients to have a space where they can simply be, to express their fears or other feelings they don’t believe can be shown elsewhere. Sometimes people just need to be able to take off whatever mask they feel they need to wear in the world so that they can be seen, accepted and understood. I do my best to make my clients feel comfortable so that when they are challenged it feels like someone trying to help them, not like they are being criticised, judged or attacked.

Internal family systems therapy

IFS is a relatively new therapeutic approach that helps clients confront what they are experiencing now through a process of internal discovery rather than an external narrative approach. It can also be used to heal trauma and correct maladaptive coping mechanisms, as well as addictions, compulsions or mood disorders like anxiety and depression. Please read my website for more information if you are interested.

March 2022 - under BACP guidance I am able to work face to face in my home that has COVID safety measures in place.

I work entirely independently and so am able to offer therapy that is tailored to you according to your needs.

I don't offer a sliding scale or discounts for those on benefits, my prices are as stated below.

In person

£90 / therapy hour virtual therapy (all times) Virtual therapy is priced higher as it is a harder form of therapy for me to provide due to the nature of the connection

£90/ therapy hour in person peak time (4pm to 7pm)

£75 / therapy hour in person off-peak (before 4pm)

£135 / 1.5 therapy hours in person/virtual peak time (4pm to 7pm)

£110 / 1.5 therapy hours in person off-peak (before 4pm)

The first session is your opportunity to get to know what I'm like to talk to and to see if you think I can help. Because you really don't know until you meet me, I set these sessions up as completely no strings attached - you don't have to see more more than once if you don't want to. Indeed, maybe you only want one session, in which see on my website information about single session therapy which is an approach I am trained in.

I don't use any diagnostic tools or questionnaires, the meeting is simply a conversation for you to tell me what's happening for you. I operate in an open and transparent way and you are welcome to ask questions about how I work or whether I have relevant experience to your situation and I will do my best to tell you what you need to know (bearing in mind necessary boundaries around therapist information).  When you set up the first session I'll also send you my client agreement and privacy notice so you'll have all the information about how I work as a therapist. This explains how my service is governed (the terms and conditions of the therapist/client service) so everything is clear. It should answer any questions you may have but if not you're free to ask or explore this more in the session.

Towards the end of the session I'll ask how you found the conversation and whether you'd like to book more sessions with me? You don't have to decide then and there, if you're not sure or if you're in the process of trying out other therapists that's no problem - it's up to you whether you want to see me and I won't try to persuade you. If you say yes we can work out a time to have the next session and I can book it in for you. Otherwise I will ask you to get in touch if you would like to see me again, but again the choice is yours.