Alys Hernandez

11 years experience working with primary school children through to adults. Approaches: Integrative counselling, creative, and play therapy.

I have over 10 years experience of working with primary and secondary school children, and appreciate the complexity of working with these age groups. It is not to be taken lightly, especially when considering safeguarding and ethical dilemmas, such as autonomy and confidentiality. I work as a play therapist with primary school aged children so if you were looking to learn/ enhance your own use of play skills in the therapy room this is something I could support. I can also bring in the creative elements into supervision if this is something you would wish for/ be open to.

I have worked with adults for just as long, and have delivered therapy face-to-face, online, telephone and via webchat. 

My approach to therapy is integrative pulling upon psychodynamic, person centred, CBT, mindfulness, existentialism, and others. However, I am adaptable and flexible to the approach you may be bringing.

I have experience of teaching the level 2,3, and 4 Diploma in Integrative Counselling, so I may be ideal for new student counsellors that appreciate the journey they are on. 

Supervision is at a rate of £60 for 50 minutes.

Supervision is typically fortnightly.

Reduced rates for student counsellors whilst in training is £50.

Uriko Therapy is a trading name of Alys 'Uriko' Therapy

Please go to my website for further information

Are you tired of having to figure this out on your own? Do you just wish someone would actually listen to you instead of giving you advice, trying to 'fix' it, pretending to listen, or waiting for an opportunity to talk about themselves? My name is Uriko and I do care, and I will listen to you. I will help you make sense of this, and I will help support you to go in the direction you want to go again. 

I can help with those racing thoughts you may be having - the doubting of yourself, worrying what others think, the world, and what the future holds. I can help with any challenges that you may be facing in your personal relationships – be it romantic or familial. Perhaps, your current mental health has knocked your confidence, or you are struggling with self-esteem - I can support you to find out why this may have happened and to help build your belief in self again. Maybe you have been feeling low/ depressed for some time, I can sit alongside you to figure it out to be able to find happiness and meaning when it feels that it has been lacking. 

To the parents: Are you fed up of being pushed from pillar to post trying to get support for your child? Are you tired of no one really 'getting it?' Your child is the most important person in the world and I appreciate how lonely and challenging it can be just trying to get the support for your child that they deserve. 

I have worked for over 11 years as a child and adult therapist, so there is little I have not worked with. With adults I work as an integrative therapist (which in plain English) means I will use the best therapeutic approach that suits you at the time - it will always be about me working in a way that best suits you, never you having to fit my way of working. We can deal with issues in the present only, we could explore how the past affects the here-and-now issues, we could look at some 'tools' you could take away to help you in between sessions, and we can take things at the pace you feel comfortable at. I can be challenging if you want/ need me be to, but I can also be there to be warm and encouraging. The space is yours to feel comfortable enough to express yourself in the ways you need to.

(My integrative approach that incorporates psychodynamic therapy, person-centred, CBT, mindfulness and existentialism.)For adults: I offer short-term therapy (6-8 sessions) to longer, open-ended therapy.

With children I work as a play therapist (ages 5-11. Older children may be considered if play therapy would suit them better than traditional 'talking' therapy) - what does this mean? I originally started as a typical talking therapist with children until I realised I was doing them a disservice. You cannot simply talk at a child like adults do and expect a response - this is not how children communicate and express. Children express through play, creativity, music, clay, role play, sand... and more! There is a saying that 'toys are the words, and play is the language', and I firmly believe this. Since working as a play therapist I have been able to communicate with a child on their level and they feel seen and heard.

For children: Short term therapy is 12 sessions, and be extended in blocks of 6.

'Uriko Therapy' is a trading name of Alys 'Uriko' Hernandez

Please look at my website for more further details