Charlie Allen

I have availability to meet in person, online or a hybrid of both, and please get in touch to enquire about my current availability.  

Hello. Perhaps you're feeling anxious, low or angry? Maybe there are things from your past which are impacting you that you need to talk about? It may be difficult to talk about these things with those closest to you, whereas therapy can be a place away from your everyday life to help bring about change. Whatever's troubling you, I offer a calm, confidential and non-judgmental space where we can navigate things together. 

I'm a BACP registered counsellor & psychotherapist working one-to-one with adults from a comfortable practice in Hove and online. I see people who come to therapy for a host of reasons, including:

• feeling anxious, low/depressed or angry
• difficulties or a breakdown in relationships
• a sense of being directionless or stuck
• low self-esteem and confidence
• a pervasive feeling that something’s not right, even if not knowing what or why
• work-related stress or burnout
• past or current trauma or abuse
• bereavement

I believe that therapy can bring about enhancements to your relationships, sense of place in the world, and overall feelings of fulfilment in life.

Counselling for men:

I'm experienced in working with men who might never have had any form of counselling or therapy before, and men who may have previously had some counselling and want to deepen their self-awareness and understanding by working at greater depth. You might, for example, be feeling anxious, depressed, angry or stressed, and may be grappling with the difficult demands of juggling work and family life/relationships. I recognise that it can be hard for some men to 'open up', or you may feel unsure about what to talk about. I will work with you at a pace and in a way that feels right, and in my experience some of these anxieties tend to lessen once we establish our relationship and get into the swing of our sessions.

My professional experience:

As well as seeing clients in private practice, I have clinical experience within a Higher Education setting, and in a specialist trauma counselling service. I also have extensive experience supporting peoples' mental health, wellbeing and development in the workplace, offering understandings around the challenges of organisational change, conflict and workplace stress.

Help with difficult thoughts, feelings and behaviours:

I work in an integrative way meaning I value you as an individual and draw on different therapeutic perspectives to offer a way of working that’s best suited to you. I particularly draw on ideas from attachment theory and psychodynamic therapy, which emphasise the impact of your early relationships in life on how you think, feel and behave. We might also think about more existential ideas, for instance around creating more meaning to your life, and considering the choices that are available to you.

During therapy we expect to understand more about what's happening in your life, your patterns of experience, and how this may be influenced by your past. This can help you to better make sense of your experience, and act as a foundation for growth. My aim is for us to develop understandings, meanings and solutions together, to help bring about lasting change.

Short-term and open-ended therapy:

I offer short-term and open-ended therapy. Short-term work can be useful to focus on a current, specific difficulty, whereas open-ended work enables us to explore your difficulties more extensively - and can be helpful for longer-term issues.

Arranging weekly sessions at the same time each week enables us to get into the rhythm of your therapy. This becomes your slot for the duration of our work together, whether that’s for an agreed time-limited period, or on an open-ended basis. Sessions last for 50 minutes each.

As a practitioner I'm fully insured and registered with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO reference number: ZB388752). 

I recognise that starting therapy may seem daunting, and that you may not be exactly sure what you want or need, and I am here to help you through the process. Please get in touch with any questions, or to arrange an initial conversation.

I offer a free, initial 15-20 minute phone or Zoom call before starting therapy, to begin thinking together about how I may be able to help you. This doesn't commit you to going any further.

Beyond this, a first meeting offers the chance to think together about your difficulties - and consider what might be most useful for you. It’s also a chance to get to know each other, an opportunity to ask questions and speak about any concerns. There's no obligation to continue, and sometimes it’s best to arrange a second meeting before deciding whether to carry on.