Alison Bannister

My current operating hours are between 5 and 7pm on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, with all-day availability on Fridays between 9am and 4pm.

If you require an appointment outside of these hours, we will work together to find something that suits.

Weekend appointments are available on request.

My therapy style is warm, genuine and empathetic. I strongly believe in treating everyone with compassion, respect and sensitivity. We will work together to ensure you are getting the most from our time together, making sure treatment is tailored to your specific needs. I believe in order to get the most from therapy, you need to be able to feel relaxed and at ease when we are working together. Regardless of your reasons for coming to therapy, I will not judge you and pride myself on treating everyone as equals. Sessions are led by you at your own pace.

I am trained in several counselling styles; cognitive-behavioural therapy, psychodynamic and humanistic counselling. Practising as an integrative counsellor means I am able to draw on theories and concepts from these different styles to find the right individual treatment plan for you. I understand that one approach may work for one person and not others, meaning I ensure all therapeutic interventions are specially tailored to you and your needs. No one knows you better than yourself, so if something isn't working or doesn't feel right we will work together to find what does work for you.

I enjoy being able to connect with my clients, using humour in sessions when appropriate. I offer a relaxed, safe and non-judgemental space for you to work through any difficulties you are facing at present. 

There is no 'power imbalance' here - I know how it can feel coming to therapy, especially for the first time. I have been in your shoes, which encouraged and inspired me to train to help others.

I offer a free initial consultation so we can get to know each other, and find out if we are the right fit to work together. I believe for therapy to be effective we have to be able to open and honest with each other. Most importantly, you need to feel safe, supported and able to be vulnerable in sessions without fear of judgement.

Following initial consultation, we schedule in a first session discuss in-depth what you feel you need help with. During this first session I may ask you to complete some short assessments, but will guide you through these.

Sessions usually take place once a week, however we can discuss this should you feel you need alternative arrangements. I offer online, phone and face to face appointments.