Alexandra Maxwell

At the moment I offer sessions mainly during daytime hours, when I offer face-to-face / online sessions.

I may also be able to offer a small number of evening sessions online, depending on availability.

Please feel free to get in touch if you’d like to explore what might work for you within my current availability.

A tailored, integrative approach

I am an integrative counsellor, which means I tailor my approach to my clients rather than working to a fixed formula, applying elements of different approaches. I am interested in the whole person, not just the problem that brings you to therapy, but also your experiences, relationships, body, and the wider context of your life.

Who I am, and what I bring

I see a counsellor’s personal and professional selves as deeply connected. I am originally from Russia and practise in English as a second language, which shapes how I listen, how I work with meaning, and how I understand difference, culture, and context.  My background allows me to offer a broader cultural perspective and different ways of thinking about experiences, relationships, and life situations, which many clients find grounding and enriching.

Working together

Our work together is collaborative and responsive - we are in it together. Some sessions may involve talking, while others might include creative ways of exploring what is going on, such as using images, metaphors, or noticing what is happening in the body. These approaches are always guided by what feels helpful and appropriate for you.

Trauma- and neurodivergence-informed care

I aim to offer a space that feels safe, respectful, and paced to you and your needs. Therapy with me is not about fitting you into a category, but about getting to know you and shaping the work in a way that supports you best.

Contact and initial conversations

For confidentiality and practical reasons, I don’t offer unscheduled phone calls. If you’d like to speak before booking, we can arrange a brief 10-15 minute call, by phone or online, to get a feel for how it might be to work together.

Who I work with, sessions and setting

I work with adults and offer counselling sessions, both face-to-face and online. Face-to-face sessions are offered from my home studio, a warm and personal space designed to feel calm and welcoming.

A whole-person approach

People come to therapy for many different reasons. Sometimes with a clear focus and understanding of what’s going on, and sometimes with a sense that something isn’t quite right but is hard to put into words. Both ways are welcome in my practice.

I work with a wide range of difficulties, but I don’t reduce people to diagnostic labels, even though I understand how meaningful and helpful labels can be for some. My focus is on getting to know your experience in context and depth, rather than fitting it into a category.

My experience

I have worked with people navigating many different life experiences, including loss, trauma, sexual and domestic abuse, identity, relationships, and profound life transitions. I am especially interested in how power, safety and the nervous system, as well as client's different identities shape the way they experience themselves and others.

Often these areas overlap, and we take time to gently explore how they connect for you.

How we work together

My work is grounded in a person-centred foundation and informed by a range of approaches, which allows me to adapt how I work as therapy unfolds. 

Trauma- and neurodivergence-informed practice

I am particularly drawn to working with people who are thoughtful, sensitive, and curious about themselves, and who are looking for a therapy space that allows for depth, meaning, and authenticity.

I am mindful of how sensitivity, neurodivergence, culture, and lived experience can shape the way people move through the world. As someone who has navigated these spaces personally, I aim to offer a therapy relationship that feels respectful, attuned, and free from pressure to perform or explain yourself.

Reaching out

I know that reaching out for therapy can feel nerve-wrecking, and that the first session can sometimes feel awkward and unfamiliar. I care deeply about the people I work with, and I try to hold this in mind from the very first contact.

Before our first session, I offer a short information pack which explains in more detail what to expect, how sessions usually unfold, and some of the practical and emotional aspects of starting therapy. This is shared in advance so you have time to read it at your own pace and don’t have to hold everything in mind on the day. I also send out the contract, with all the necessary information, and a short reflective space to get to know you better.

What happens in the first session

The first session is a space to begin getting to know each other and build sense of safety around each other, as well as to explore what has brought you to therapy. We take time to talk about what you are hoping for, any concerns you may have, and what feels important for you to share at this stage. 

I will also explain how I work, answer any questions you may have, and go through practical aspects such as boundaries, confidentiality, and ask what feels supportive for you in terms of pace and structure.

Pace, safety, and expectations

There is no expectation to know exactly what you want to work on, or to share your whole story in the first session. We move at a pace that feels manageable, with attention to safety and comfort.

The first session is as much about getting a sense of how it feels to work together as it is about beginning our therapeutic work together.