AJ Bettison

Feb 2024: I currently have availability on Tuesday mornings and afternoons.

There are many reasons why someone might want to consider counselling. Sometimes it’s a question of curiosity about ourselves: who we are, and how we live our lives. Perhaps more often, the prompt might be encountering difficulties in our health, our relationships, or our work. Either way, a supportive counselling relationship can help make more sense of our lives, and find our own ways to live them more fully.

I trained as an integrative counsellor, meaning I apply a depth understanding of a number of approaches to thinking about human relationships and psychology. Primarily I am a relational therapist: I believe that we learn who we are and how we engage with others in our early relationships, and that through novel relationships - with a therapist for example - we can change unhelpful learned patterns and find a new way for ourselves.

I offer sessions by phone/online Monday-Thursday between 8.00am and 8.00pm. I accept payment by cash, card and bank transfer.

I work as an integrative therapist, meaning I apply a depth understanding of a number of approaches to thinking about human relationships and psychology. In theoretical terms, my work is chiefly guided by humanistic thinking, particularly Gestalt psychotherapy, and by attachment theory.  Primarily I am a relational therapist: I believe that we learn who we are and how we engage with others in our early relationships, and that through novel relationships - with a therapist for example - we can change unhelpful learned patterns and find a new way for ourselves.

I have particular clinical and personal interests in death, dying and bereavement, and relational trauma/complex PTSD.  I work part-time in private practice, where I see clients for long and short-term work.  I previously also co-managed a community counselling service in Cambridge, providing short-term NHS-funded counselling in GP surgeries and community settings.

I offer supervision face to face and by video conferencing.  My working hours are flexible Tuesday-Thursday between 8.00am and 8.00pm; other times may be possible by arrangement.