Alison Reed Richards

My belief is we each have within ourselves the innate capacity to bring about growth and change: it simply needs rediscovering and nurturing for our way forward to emerge. What I can offer is an attentive environment and the kind of supportive relationship which nurtures that seed within. We all experience life events which can be disturbing, distressing, troubling, making our lives feel difficult or out of balance: in providing a supported space – set apart from the routine of life – I offer both an invitation and the opportunity to explore and reflect upon whatever is causing you concern; together.

I work integratively which means I use my knowledge and understanding of various therapeutic models to work in a way which best suits you, creatively and collaboratively tailor-making the experience to meet your specific needs.

Based in Curry Rivel, Mid-Somerset, equidistant between Glastonbury, Yeovil and Taunton and within easy reach of the M5, my therapy room is on the ground floor therefore easily accessible for most. 

I offer both face to face and online sessions however during the Covid pandemic, all sessions take place using online platforms. 

My experience includes working with adult individuals (17+) in areas which include, amongst others, low self esteem, anxiety, depression, bereavement and loss (including the hidden loss of early miscarriage, abortion, the end of an affair), overwhelming confusion, emotional & sexual abuse and its impact on our present day living, relationship issues. I work integratively utilising my knowledge and understanding of various therapeutic models to work in a way which best suits you.

Essentially a Talking therapy not everyone finds talking easy; it can be hard to find the words to express how we feel. In such instances we can explore alternative ways of finding expression - drawing, imagery, dreams, paying attention to our physical tensions and habitual gestures, visualisation, fairy tales, toys, natural objects. 

My aim is to treat you with respect and consideration holding all things gently and confidentially with the firm belief you will begin again to experience life in all its fullness.

First contact will usually be a telephone conversation after which the initial appointment can be arranged. First appointments are a useful 'getting to know each other' experience: exploring something of what you need support with, how we might work together to your best benefit, giving you the opportunity to decide whether you feel comfortable enough to continue working with me.  And if you do wish to work with me we will confirm details (dates, times, terms & conditions) for future appointments.

First sessions last approximately 45 minutes. Subsequent sessions will be 50 - 60 minutes.

A professional requirement for those working as counsellors and psychotherapists, good supervision is a vital component in helping us develop our way of being in the world personally and professionally. Enabling and facilitating our self awareness, growing our ability to think for ourselves, connect deeply with others, becoming effective human beings, supervision has much to offer those who work in the helping professions – indeed anyone wishing to fulfil their innate potential and be the best human they can be.

As a Supervisor I aspire to create a trustworthy working relationship, a spacious, reflective, thinking environment where we can rise to the challenge of working therapeutically or skilfully and helpfully with others, paying attention to self- and other-care, a relationship within which we can both thrive professionally and personally.

I am a qualified Counsellor (MBACP Accredited) with 10 years experience and Supervisor (4 years experience)  of working with a variety of people with a variety of concerns. My belief is we each have within ourselves the innate capacity to bring about growth and change: it simply needs rediscovering and nurturing for our way forward to emerge. What I offer is an environment & relationship characterised by attentive presence - the kind of supportive relationship which nurtures that seed within.

Trained Integratively (Clarkson's 5 relational model) as a counsellor, I utilise my knowledge and understanding of various therapeutic models to work in a way which best suits each individual, creatively and collaboratively tailor-making the experience to meet the specific needs of each. My ethos & principles are person-centred placing the supervisee/client at the centre of our collaboration.

My supervision training built on this; incorporating Inskipp & Proctor's Normative, Formative & Restorative model along with Hawkins & Shohet's 7 eyed Processing model within my person-centred approach to the supervisory space. My work as a Pastoral Supervisor has developed utilising the concepts of Role, Soul & Context as lenses through which supervisory work can be viewed.

Like everyone I made changes to the way I work and how I offer supervisory support in response to the corona virus pandemic. In response I have developed the online area of my work; I am confident in offering telephone (video call) and online supervision if in person sessions are not possible due to health restrictions, geographical or logistical impracticalities.

Previous experience includes a hospice setting & a not for profit Counselling Agency where I provided both individual & group supervision. I work with trainee, qualified & experienced counsellors, Clergy (I am a member of APSE) & professionals who undertake or work in caring roles. 

Initial contact will include an exploratory telephone conversation followed by a 45 minute session - free to prospective supervisees - to explore & clarify how we might work together beneficially.