Allister Murdoch

I reply to enquires Sunday through to Friday 11am -8pm

Working Hours ( In Person or Online

Monday 12noon to 9pm

​Tuesday - 12noon to 9pm

Wednesday 12noon - 9pm

Thursday 12noon - 9pm

Friday 12noon - 9pm

Saturday 11am - 5pm

I work online with clients across the UK and Worldwide, with the exception of the USA and Canada. This is for legal reasons.

I am happy to arrange to see clients in a hybrid way.

I cannot offer in person same day appointments.

I provide a specialist counselling service for both men and or others from the LGBTQIA+ community including those of relationship diversities and self gender identification.

I have extensive experience of helping clients issues of anxiety, depression, relationship difficulties, LGBTQIA+ clients and with men who are victims/survivors of domestic abuse along with many other issues.

My style is to support you through a conversation to look at what is currently going on in your life, what you want to change and where appropriate your past. You can then through exploration, choose the way that you want to change. That may include teaching you new practical skills. 

I also have extensive experience and training via Pink Therapy for working with clients of sexuality, gender and relationship diversities.

Professional Qualifications

Post Graduate Certificate in Psychotherapy and a further 4 years at an on going Post Graduate Group 2004

Cert in Counselling UCL (London) 1998

Essentials in Gender And Sexual Diversity Therapy (Pink Therapy)

Specialist Male Psychology Training

Men In Mind (University of Melbourne/Movember)

Mankind Initiative Conferences

New insights into masculinity; theory and practice.( Centre for Male Psychology)

Male-friendly therapy: understanding therapy for men, men’s mental health, and help-seeking.

Improving boys' mental health, their understanding of masculinity and their experience of school.

BPS Male Psychology Network Conference

Introduction to Male Psychology and Mental Health (BPS)

Training to support male victims of domestic abuse

Working with the Male Psyche (Physis Scotland)

Men’s Experience of Intimate Partner Abuse’ webinar (AMIS)

Making An Appointment

I reply to enquires Sunday through to Friday 11am -8pm

When I call you and don't get a reply I will leave a message when possible or send you an email. I will wait for you to contact me. I will not keep calling you.

When clients come along to their first session one of my jobs is to make you feel less anxious. Being anxious about coming to counselling if it is your first time is common. You don't know what you are walking into. I am often slightly anxious as well. I don't who is walking through my door.

I have three questions that I ask all new clients.

1. What has made you decide to come for counselling now?
2. What do you want from coming to see me?
3. Do you have any questions for me?

The answer to the first two can be quite long. You may not be able to tell me as much as you want. It's also a choice how much you tell me. I won't know any different.

It's often the first time that you may have spoken about something. There can be a sense of unburdening. It's not uncommon for clients to apologise in this sessions for talking too much. I understand and there's no need to do that. It's like the cork has popped out of the bottle.

Once I know what you want to change we can then explore the way that you want to change. There's usually multiple ways that can be done. If you don't want to change anything you are doing that is a choice but nothing will change.

I work with all clients in an individual way. I don't believe one way of type of counselling fits all. That's where many years of practical experience and ongoing training helps me.

The choices may include teaching you new practical skills or I may suggest some tasks for you to do between sessions. They can be thought of as experiments. If one option doesn't work we can choose something else. Talking though issues is great and to make changes you often have to take some action to change your pattern.

Counselling doesn't have to be tears and talking about feelings. Humour can play a part of it as well.