Alan Malt
Registered Member MBACP
Contact information
- Phone number
- 07356176635
Sessions from £55.00
Features
- Flexible hours available
- Available for home visits
- Concessionary rates
Availability
I genuinely believe that, given the right environment, we all have the ability to grow, understand ourselves better and find our own way forward.For me, counselling is about the relationship we build together. It's about having somewhere you can be yourself, without feeling judged, having to explain yourself or worrying about what someone else might think.
I don't believe I'm the expert on your life. You've lived your experiences, not me, and I wouldn't presume to know what's best for you. What I can offer is a genuine interest in understanding your world, how you experience things and what they mean to you.
I think we can spend so much of our lives trying to meet other people's expectations, doing what we think we should, or being who we feel we're supposed to be, that sometimes we lose touch with ourselves along the way.
I'm not here to give you a list of things to do or tell you how you should feel. Instead, we'll explore things together, at your pace, without any pressure to reach a particular conclusion.
There might be moments of sadness, frustration, silence or even laughter. I welcome all of it. I don't believe every silence needs filling or that every difficult feeling needs an immediate solution.
I value honesty, warmth and being genuine. I won't pretend to have all the answers, and I certainly don't expect you to.
Sometimes, just having the time and space to hear ourselves think, explore what matters to us and make sense of our experiences can be incredibly powerful.
Ultimately, my hope is that through our work together, you'll come to understand and accept yourself a little more, trust your own feelings and find what feels right for you, rather than what you think should be right.
About me and my therapy practice
I genuinely believe that, given the right environment, we all have the ability to grow, understand ourselves better and find our own way forward.For me, counselling is about the relationship we build together. It's about having somewhere you can be yourself, without feeling judged, having to explain yourself or worrying about what someone else might think.
I don't believe I'm the expert on your life. You've lived your experiences, not me, and I wouldn't presume to know what's best for you. What I can offer is a genuine interest in understanding your world, how you experience things and what they mean to you.
I think we can spend so much of our lives trying to meet other people's expectations, doing what we think we should, or being who we feel we're supposed to be, that sometimes we lose touch with ourselves along the way.
I'm not here to give you a list of things to do or tell you how you should feel. Instead, we'll explore things together, at your pace, without any pressure to reach a particular conclusion.
There might be moments of sadness, frustration, silence or even laughter. I welcome all of it. I don't believe every silence needs filling or that every difficult feeling needs an immediate solution.
I value honesty, warmth and being genuine. I won't pretend to have all the answers, and I certainly don't expect you to.
Sometimes, just having the time and space to hear ourselves think, explore what matters to us and make sense of our experiences can be incredibly powerful.
Ultimately, my hope is that through our work together, you'll come to understand and accept yourself a little more, trust your own feelings and find what feels right for you, rather than what you think should be right.
Practice description
Alder & Ash Counselling is my private counselling practice based in Retford, Nottinghamshire. I offer a welcoming, confidential space for adults, whether that's face-to-face, online or, where appropriate, through home visits.I work with people from all sorts of backgrounds and experiences. Some are navigating grief, bereavement, illness or caring for someone they love. Others might be experiencing anxiety, relationship difficulties, burnout, challenges around self-esteem or trying to make sense of a change in their lives.
I also welcome people exploring neurodivergence, identity and relationships, including those whose lives or relationships might not fit traditional expectations.
Alongside Alder & Ash, I volunteer as a counsellor with Bright Hope and Dove Cottage Day Hospice, and I've also spent time volunteering with LOROS Hospice. This work is incredibly important to me and has given me the opportunity to sit alongside people facing some of life's most difficult and uncertain experiences.
I offer 60-minute sessions at £55, with a limited number of reduced-fee appointments for people on lower incomes or receiving means-tested benefits.
I appreciate that reaching out to a counsellor can feel like quite a big step, particularly when you're not entirely sure what to expect.
Our first session is simply an opportunity to meet, talk about what has brought you to counselling and explore what you might like from our time together. I'll also explain how I work, confidentiality and the practical arrangements, and you're welcome to ask questions.
There's no expectation to arrive knowing exactly what you want to talk about, and there's certainly no pressure to share anything before you're ready.
If you'd like to find out more, you're very welcome to get in touch.
www.alderandashcounselling.co.uk
My first session
I appreciate that coming to counselling for the first time can feel a little daunting, particularly if you're not quite sure what to expect or where to begin.For me, our first session is really about getting to know one another and seeing how we feel about working together. I believe the relationship between us is incredibly important, so it's an opportunity for you to get a sense of who I am, how I work and whether you feel comfortable talking with me.
We'll spend a little time going through the practical side of counselling, including confidentiality, its limits, and our counselling agreement. I may ask a few questions to help me understand your circumstances and what has brought you to counselling, but I don't want it to feel like an interview or something you need to prepare for.
You might have a clear idea of what you'd like to explore, or you might not be entirely sure. Either is absolutely fine. There's no expectation to tell me everything in our first meeting, and you certainly don't need to have all the answers.
You're welcome to ask me questions too. I think it's important that you feel able to make an informed choice about who you work with.
Our first session lasts 60 minutes, just like subsequent sessions, and the usual fee of £55 applies.
I also offer discounted counselling sessions for students. Having experienced the journey of training myself, I feel it's important to give something back and help make counselling more accessible to those studying and developing their own futures.
Most importantly, there's no obligation to continue. If we decide to work together, we'll take things from there, at a pace that feels comfortable for you.
Sometimes, simply having that first conversation can be a meaningful starting point.
What I can help with
Abuse, ADD / ADHD, Addictions, Adoption, Anger management, Anxiety, Autism spectrum, Baby loss, Bereavement, Cancer, Child related issues, Chronic fatigue syndrome / ME, Coercive control, Cultural issues, Dementia, Depression, Disability, Eating disorders, Health related issues, Identity issues, Infertility, LGBTQ+ counselling, Loss, Men's issues, Mood disorder, Narcissism, Neurodiversity, Obsessions, OCD, Pet bereavement, Phobias, Post-traumatic stress, Pregnancy related issues, Redundancy, Relationships, Self esteem, Self-harm, Service veterans, Severe mental illness (SMI), Sex-related issues, Sexual identity, Spirituality, Stress, Substance Dependency, Trauma, Vegan allied, Work related issues
Types of therapy
Person centred
Clients I work with
Adults, EAP, Older adults, Organisations, Trainees, Young people
How I deliver therapy
Home visits, Long term sessions, Long-term face-to-face work, Online therapy, Outdoor therapy, Short term sessions, Short-term face-to-face work
Languages spoken
English