Alan Bell

Appointments are arranged on an individual basis, subject to availability.

It takes courage to make this first step in seeking support and I appreciate the need to find the right person to support you on your journey. 

As a BACP therapist and Mental Health Mentor I can offer you a confidential, non-judgemental therapeutic space to explore the circumstances that have bought you to this point and by exploring these together, gaining insight, understanding and awareness, we open the possibility to create a positive lasting and significant change.

People use counselling for many reasons. You might be considering counselling if you’re feeling anxious or depressed, you’ve experienced grief or loss, your relationships feel difficult or if you’d like to process events from your past or present.

Or you may have found this site because you are struggling and in pain and stuck and need support to help you find ways to manage or change this. You may want to try to understand relationships in your life or better understand patterns of behaviour.

Whatever it might be counselling, sometimes called talking therapy, can offer you the time and space that you need to process your thoughts and feelings, and work through these in a way that brings you self-understanding. This can be either short or short term. 

As a member of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) I follow Ethical Guidelines and am passionate about helping others navigate their way to a happier or more contented self.

I have ADHD and was diagnosed as an adult, but I am not an expert in ADHD. Instead I have a lived experience, something very different. I do however love working with difference.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or are unsure about something.

As a person-centred therapist, I believe that each person is the expert in their own life. My role is not to diagnose, direct, or tell you what to do, but to offer a safe, supportive, and non-judgemental space in which you can explore your experiences at your own pace.

Person-centred therapy is based on the understanding that, given the right conditions, people have an innate capacity to grow, heal, and move towards greater wellbeing. This is especially important for those who have experienced trauma, adversity, or long-standing emotional difficulties, where a sense of safety and trust may have been disrupted. In our work together, I focus on creating those conditions through empathy, authenticity, and acceptance.

I aim to listen carefully to understand your world as you experience it, while being open and genuine in the therapeutic relationship. You are met with respect and acceptance, without judgement or pressure to talk about anything before you feel ready. You remain in control of what we explore, how deeply we go, and the pace at which the work unfolds.

Rather than focusing on labels or diagnoses, person-centred therapy places importance on your thoughts, feelings, and lived experience. We may gently explore patterns in relationships, emotional responses, or experiences from the past, always with an awareness of how these are held in the present. Attention is paid to what feels manageable, helping to avoid overwhelm and supporting a growing sense of stability and self-trust.

Many people find this approach empowering, as it supports increased self-understanding, self-compassion, and a reconnection with their own inner resources. Over time, this can lead to greater emotional resilience, improved relationships, and a more settled sense of self.

I work alongside you, offering support rather than solutions, and respecting your autonomy throughout. My aim is to help you feel heard, understood, and safe enough to move towards a more fulfilling way of being.

Usually, in the first instance, we would meet for 30 - 45 mins in person to check our suitability, which is free of charge. In this short session we can talk about the issues or problems or areas of concern and I can explain more fully how we would work together. I'm told that I'm easy to get on with, which helps.