Alison Gifford

Available:

Monday 9:00 -17:00

Wednesday 16:00 - 20:00

Thursday 9:00 - 18:00

Saturday 09:00 - 13:00

I'm a counsellor who works with people who are experiencing physical and mental symptoms that are making day to day life difficult and feel like a battle. You may appear to others to be coping well in your life, but for you, you don't feel right deep inside.

You may find that is shows as you being on edge without knowing why, shutting down in ordinary conversations, disordered sleep patterns or a body that reacts before you have had time to think. It can involve deeply held shame. Perhaps you don't feel good enough, or you find yourself trying to constantly please others at a cost to your health. You may feel there are parts of yourself that you can't show to others - fearing they won't accept you or understand. Many people have spent years managing to hide this inner turmoil very well and are exhausted by it.

Particularly with some abuse, there can be a lingering doubt about your own version of events. That doubt is part of what we work on.

My approach is to be warm, approachable, to work in collaboration with you and at the pace that feels comfortable for you. As I work from an integrative background, the foundation of my approach is the relationship we develop and this then underpins the work that will draw on different theories and models to ensure we meet your individual needs. These may include parts work, Gestalt techniques, CBT exercises and others as needed.

It is not about justifying decisions you made at the time, and it never requires you to describe anything you are not ready to describe. If a different kind of help would serve you better, you will be told so, honestly and early.

The work is about developing your understanding of what happened and how you got through to where you are now and then creating a new version of you that is able to live the life they want, unburdened by their past.

Seeking therapy is often a last resort, when you feel you can't take any more. You may feel exhausted, anxious, unable to express emotions and you can't continue to struggle through as you are.

I understand the courage it takes to seek help, and I aim to create a warm, non-judgemental space where you can feel safe and supported.

We explore the patterns you have developed to help you through, and how they show up in your life. You may be a people pleaser, need to control everything to feel safe, be angry and aggressive or just feel numb and shut down. 

My practice is a calm and peaceful space, whether you experience it in person or online. We work at your pace and you only share what you are comfortable sharing. We work together to help you understand your thoughts and behaviours and make positive change.

I work in person and online and sessions are 50 minutes long. Both short and long term therapy is offered and you decide how long you want to continue to work with me.

I am committed to providing inclusive, affirming and non-judgemental support for people from all backgrounds, ethnicities, genders and identities.

The first session is a chance for us to start to get to know one another. You will have the chance to talk through what has led you to come to therapy, sharing as little or as much as you choose. You may be very clear on why you wanted therapy and what you want to achieve, or perhaps you are unclear but know that something needs to change. Either way, we work from this starting point.

We can talk about how I work and what the therapy sessions would be like and agree how we start the process. I will go through issues around confidentiality, the timing of our sessions and the pace at which we will work, so that you are prepared for the work to begin. You can ask all the questions that you have to ensure you feel happy about working with me.

The first sessions are about steadying: understanding what your nervous system is doing, finding what helps you feel safer in yourself, and building the resources you will draw on later. Nothing difficult is opened before you are ready.

I work with adults aged 18 and over, offering face to face therapy at my practice in Tansley, Derbyshire and online throughout the UK. Sessions are 50 minutes long and usually weekly at the same time each week, but if needed, there is some flexibility here.

I offer short and long term therapy, which means there is no fixed number of sessions. You decide what feels right for you.