Alison Bennett

Coronavirus Update:

Due to the current outbreak, I am aware that many people will be feeling anxious and worried about the impact of coronavirus on their lives. To be of support to people I am currently offering telephone or online counselling including video-calling as an alternative to face-to-face sessions.

My name is Alison and I am a professional counsellor based in my village home two miles from Ledbury, Herefordshire. ​I offer Person-centered, Integrative Counselling to young people, adults and couples in the quiet setting of my comfortable therapy room.

​I am an Accredited Member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy and adhere to their ethics and guidelines. ​I am trained to degree level and have passed the BACP Certificate of Proficiency.

Many people I work with are experiencing sadness, loss, depression, anxiety, relationship problems or the feelings carried on from unresolved experiences of the past which can threaten to overwhelm. Others may have a sense of dissatisfaction or unease with their present life, feeling that they would like to make changes but unsure what those changes need to be. By talking things through, many of my clients have gained fresh insight and a new way forward.

Counselling offers you a safe, confidential place to talk and I am  trained to listen carefully and non-judgmentally, helping you find a way forwards with anything that you may be finding painful, uncomfortable or confusing, or in times where there is loss of a sense of purpose and direction.

The relationship we build together greatly influences the success of the therapy, so the first session allows you to meet with me and make sure you feel comfortable with me; it also gives you an opportunity to ask any questions you might have. There are different methods of counselling and we need to create the approach that will suit you best as an individual.

The number of sessions necessary to bring about the changes you want in your life can vary from person to person. Some people may prefer to agree to a set number of counselling sessions from the outset whilst others are happy to keep it open ended, reviewing their progress as they go along.

To feel safe you can be reassured that I am a member of the BACP professional body and adhere to their strong ethics and standards 

In our initial session, you may wish to share what the difficulty is you would like help with and what you would like to achieve from counselling. We will discuss with you how I will maintain your confidentiality, how the counselling sessions might be organised and what commitment might be required from you as a client. Once you are both happy with how you plan to work together, we will both sign an agreement, a copy of which you can take home.

Many people organising counselling for the first time may feel some anxiety but making the decision to get help and address the issues they are facing is an important first step. There are many who find that the experience of counselling can be life-changing, transforming how they feel about themselves and their future as well as benefiting the quality of their relationships.