Alison Rew

Hi, I’m Ali, a counsellor working in Canterbury and Faversham. I offer a supportive environment where you can explore whatever is causing difficulty in your life. Together we will take time to understand how you truly feel, helping you gain clarity, confidence and a deeper connection with yourself.

I offer warmth, curiosity and compassion. Our sessions are centred around what you choose to bring. Counselling can provide a pause from the noise of life, a space to be heard and seen — an opportunity to hear your own voice and listen to what that means for you.

My approach is integrative, drawing from a range of therapeutic methods so we can work in a way that suits you as an individual. I will accompany you in your situation – giving a safe, confidential space to explore issues you may not be able to acknowledge anywhere else in your life. I believe with this honesty comes opportunities to find your own way through whatever difficulty you are experiencing.

People seek counselling for many different reasons. You may be coping with the loss of someone close to you, experiencing anxiety or depression, struggling with the impact of a past traumatic experience, or simply feeling the need for a safe space to talk and reflect. Counselling can offer the time, space, and support to explore these concerns at your own pace.

I aim to provide a warm, confidential, and non-judgemental environment in which clients feel heard and understood. Through our work together, I hope clients develop a deeper understanding of themselves and gain the confidence to make informed choices about their lives. My hope is that clients leave counselling feeling more resilient and better equipped to navigate life’s challenges.

People seek counselling for many different reasons. You may be coping with the loss of someone close to you, experiencing anxiety or depression, struggling with the impact of a past traumatic experience, or simply feeling the need for a safe space to talk and reflect.

I work both short term and long term with clients of all ages who come to me for a variety of reasons- either in person or online.

As a counsellor at the Pilgrims Hospice, I find some clients come to me for support with grief, loss, and life transitions. I am passionate about helping people navigate the often complex and painful experience of change and loss.

These sessions offer a compassionate environment where you can talk openly, at your own pace, about your grief and the wide range of emotions that may arise. Whether feelings feel overwhelming, confusing, or difficult to express, you do not have to face them alone. Grief is deeply individual, and loss can affect many areas of life.

In my experience, connection with the natural world can also be supportive. I therefore offer the option of walk-and-talk therapy. My counselling spaces in Faversham and Canterbury both have access to rural areas, allowing us the option to step outside and walk through fields or in woodland when this feels helpful. For some, this can feel less intense than sitting in a room, particularly when emotions feel overwhelming.

I also offer sessions to children and young people. I believe that every young person deserves to feel listened to, valued, and understood. In my work at the University of Kent, I have seen the difference that a consistent, accepting space can make in helping students feel more grounded, confident, and able to cope with difficulties.

In my sessions young people can talk openly about whatever is on their mind - anxiety, low mood, friendship difficulties, family challenges, school stress, neurodiversity-related experiences, or simply feeling overwhelmed by life.

If you feel I may be the right counsellor for you, or you would simply like to find out more, we can arrange a free initial conversation.

I understand that reaching out can feel daunting and in general most people prefer to send an initial email. I will then arrange a convenient time to speak with you, usually on the phone.

There is no obligation. It is simply an opportunity to ask questions and see how it feels.

Everything you share is treated with respect and held in confidence.

There are no expectations - only a willingness to begin, and we will take the next steps together...

If you choose to go ahead then in our first session we will spend time looking at your situation and I will conduct an initial assessment, to gradually help me build up a picture of your world. It is also when I gather any necessary contact information and we decide together how the work will take place, setting out the boundaries and aims of the work at this point.

Sessions can be held in person or online and we will move at a pace that feels comfortable and helpful for you. Regular reviews will evaluate how things are going and help us identify next steps; ensuring sessions are always guided by your individual aims, hopes and situation.