Rachel Allen

Rachel Allen


Registered Member MBACP (Accredited)

Contact information

Phone number
07765109922

Contact Rachel


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Therapist - Bristol

Bristol BS6
07765109922
Sessions from £60.00

Features

  • Flexible hours available
  • Concessionary rates

About me and my therapy practice

I am an experienced therapist, with a down-to-earth and non-judgemental approach.  I will aim to develop a safe and supportive relationship with you where you feel able to talk about any difficulties you are experiencing now or have done in the past, and to be yourself, going at a pace that suits you.

I use an integrative counselling approach which has a basis in humanistic/person centred practice. This is informed by other theories and approaches such as attachment and family systems theory. I take a compassionate view of the struggles and difficulties that we can all face in life.

I find taking a creative approach to therapy can be helpful, alongside talking, for both adults and young people. Creative approaches can really help when it is hard to find the words that fit with what you are experiencing. 

This can be particularly beneficial for children and young people, who may not always find it easy to put their feelings and thoughts into words.  Often it’s a child's behaviour that communicates that something is wrong.  A counselling relationship gives them the opportunity to find a means of expressing themselves that is appropriate to their age and developmental stage, in a safe and confidential space.  This could be by using art, puppets, drama, stories, sand tray and play, as well as or instead of the more usual talking type of therapy.  I have worked in nine different schools (primary and secondary) and in private practice with children aged from six upwards.  If you are interested in counselling for your child, please contact me for more information and to have an initial discussion.

I also offer Sand tray therapy, which is an approach that can be used alongside talking therapy and can be a way of accessing deeply held feelings and experiences.  Please see my website for more information about this or contact me if you'd like more information.

Practice description

I am qualified and insured to work with adults, children and young people. 

I have experience of working with a wide range of issues including but not limited to, family and parent/child relationships, parenting (from newborn onwards), bereavement and loss, neglect and/or abuse in childhood, addiction and its effects on family members, creativity and creative blocks, living with uncertainty and life-threatening illness, neurodiversity.

Counselling can be short-term, perhaps focused on a particular issue, or longer-term.  I would aim to discuss and review this with you as your therapy progresses.

My first session

If you are an adult or an older young person the first session is usually a more general discussion of what has brought you to counselling, what you would hope to gain from it and the chance for me to go through a few questions to find out a little more about you and how your life is at the moment.

For younger children, I would normally invite one or both parents to a discussion before meeting their child.  This can be online or by phone as well as in person.

If you're uncertain about starting counselling I also offer a free half hour introductory session, which would allow you to get a sense of whether I'm someone you'd like to work with.  This can be online or in person.

What I can help with

Abuse, Anxiety, Autism spectrum, Bereavement, Cancer, Child related issues, Depression, Disability, Health related issues, Identity issues, Loss, Neurodiversity, Pregnancy related issues, Redundancy, Relationships, Self esteem, Stress, Trauma, Work related issues

Types of therapy

Creative therapy, Humanistic, Integrative, Person centred, Psychodynamic, Relational, Systemic, Transactional analysis

Clients I work with

Adults, Children, Trainees, Young people

How I deliver therapy

Long-term face-to-face work, Online therapy, Short-term face-to-face work