Alexandra Gillyon

I work in person in Manchester, and also online (including audio only if preferred).  I offer new clients a free 30 min consultation to discuss how sessions may be able to help.  I currently have availability evenings and Saturdays - please contact me to enquire about current availability. 

I am a counsellor with a MA degree as an integrative therapist and a BSc in Psychology, and currently studying for a psychology doctorate in the field of autism research. 

I aim to help you find ways to cope or work through changes you want to make.  

I am honest, warm and supportive.

I offer a down-to-earth approach, with my belief that at the heart of our work together it is a conversation about living.  We can work on helping you struggle less and work on opening up possibilities in your life.  I don't attempt to "fix" you or tell you what to do, always working collaboratively with you to help you move forward.

Sometimes identifying and altering existing unhelpful patterns can help you find your potential.  As well understanding and making sense of things, I work with solution focused techniques when people are looking for specific and measurable changes in unhelpful thought patterns or behaviours.

I have experience and understanding of how neurodiversity can impact and shape experiences.

I also work with military veterans or members of their families, focusing on issues including service life, operational deployments, or struggles with the transition to civilian life.

My practice recognises and supports diversity, affirmation and inclusion, welcoming clients from different cultures and backgrounds. LGBTQIA+ friendly.

Each session I invite clients to give themselves some time and space without the usual distractions and interruptions of normal life.  This space can be so helpful and symbolic of the self-care you might need right now.  I hope I can help you feel more interested in your life and become more able to talk about it with curiosity, to make some sense about why things feel the way they do.  There’s the room and space to take seriously those thoughts or feelings we might normally push aside, dismiss or keep to ourselves in the ordinary world.

I offer all clients a free 30 minute consultation to talk about what you would like from therapy and explore how we might work together.  After the consultation I send clients a Counselling Agreement about my practice and how your information and data will always be private.  Our first 50 minute session would start the journey of exploring your life, the changes you seek, and how you might get there.  I also offer check-in sessions once we finish regular sessions, as this can be useful for some clients too.