Alison Scott-McKinley

Welcome! I am currently accepting new clients for in-person and remote therapy. Face-to-face appointments take place in my private garden therapy studio in Mid-Ulster - a calm, fully private space separate from my home, complete with its own entrance and dedicated parking.

• Practice Hours: Appointments are available Monday through Friday during daytime hours.

• Student Concessions: As an experienced clinical supervisor and therapist, I offer discounted rates for student counsellors undertaking clinical training (subject to availability).

• Current Practice Status: Open for new bookings. No upcoming office closures are scheduled at this time.

With over 21 years’ clinical experience as an Accredited BACP Practitioner in Mid-Ulster, I offer specialized counselling, psychotherapy, and life coaching for adults, children, and young people.

Approach & Philosophy

At my core, I am a Person-Centred, holistic practitioner. Whether you are processing trauma or navigating life transitions, stress, or relationship challenges, I view you as a complete human system rather than a set of symptoms. Therapy with me is rooted in genuine connection, safety, and plain language—creating a grounded space where you feel genuinely seen.

Areas of Focus

While I hold advanced training in complex trauma and nervous system regulation, my practice warmly welcomes clients seeking everyday emotional support as well as specialist therapies:

Individual Wellbeing: Stress, anxiety, low mood, grief, self-esteem, and life transitions

Specialist Trauma & PTSD: Historical abuse, childhood trauma, acute PTSD, and the impact of the NI Troubles

Attachment & Relational: Adoption identity, attachment loss, family dynamics, and couples counselling

Therapeutic Frameworks

Safety and grounding underpin my work. I integrate evidence-based somatic, relational, and creative modalities tailored to your system:

Integrative & Coaching: Person-Centred talk therapy and forward-focused Life Coaching

Somatic & Trauma: EMDR (Adults & Children), Sensorimotor Psychotherapy (L1), and Internal Family Systems (IFS L1)

Relational & Creative: Attachment-Focused EMDR, DDP (L1), Theraplay (L1, L2 & Group), plus Sandtray and LEGO therapy for non-verbal emotional processing

Clinical Supervision

As an experienced Clinical Supervisor, I provide ethically grounded supervision for student counsellors on placement, newly qualified practitioners, and established therapists.

Therapy works best when you feel completely safe, comfortable, and unhurried. Sessions take place in my dedicated, private garden therapy studio located in the quiet Mid-Ulster countryside. It is a warm, inviting and entirely private space, completely separate from my home.

Privacy & Environment:

• Dedicated Parking: On-site private parking.

• Separate Entrance: Complete discretion with no shared entryways or busy waiting rooms.

• Creative & Somatic Space: A tranquil setting featuring a dedicated area for creative therapies—including sandtray therapy, LEGO therapy, and expressive resources suitable for children, young people, and adults.

What to Expect:

When working together, we move strictly at a pace that feels safe for you. Traditional talk therapy doesn't work for everyone, so our sessions can combine verbal dialogue, body awareness, creative exploration, and specialized trauma processing (such as EMDR or IFS) depending on what your system needs.

Whether meeting in person at the studio or remotely via telephone or secure online video, you can expect a grounded, down-to-earth, and confidential space tailored to your goals.

Initial Consultation & Screening:

Prior to booking an initial full session, I conduct a mandatory 15-20 minute introductory phone call with all new clients. This free, brief consultation allows us to discuss what you are looking for, answer any initial questions, and ensure my practice is the right fit for your specific needs.

What to Expect in Our First Session:

Once we agree to move forward, our initial 50-minute session serves as a gentle intake and foundational space. Together, we will:

• Review Our Agreement: Discuss working boundaries, confidentiality, and our therapeutic contract so you feel completely clear on how we work together.

• Gather Background: Gently explore your current life context, relevant history, and safety needs—without pressure to dive into deep trauma details before you feel ready.

• Explore Your Hopes: Focus on what you hope to experience or process in therapy. My work is not rigidly goal-driven; instead, we prioritize your pacing, presence, regulation and overall wellbeing.

• Creative & Somatic Options: Discuss how we might integrate talk therapy, somatic tools (such as EMDR or IFS), or creative resources (like sandtray) depending on what suits you.

No-Pressure Commitment:

This session allows us to establish safety and connection. There is no obligation to commit to long-term therapy; we proceed at a pace that feels grounded and right for you.