Elise Whittington

I currently have availability for new clients Monday to Friday. My earliest appointment is 8.30am. My latest appointment start time is 6pm. I offer sessions online via Zoom or WhatsApp video call. 

I am passionate about supporting adults with addictive behaviours. I am a highly qualified and very experienced addictions counsellor.

I can support you to conquer your addictive behaviour by working towards achieving a reduction or complete abstinence dependending on your need and personal goals. Please do have a look at the homepage of my website which clearly sets out how I work and what you can expect. 

Addictions counselling is traditional in that we will of course work with any underlying issues that are the root causes or 'triggers' of your behaviour. I am an integrative counsellor and work with the theory models of Person-Centred, Gestalt, Attachment and Transactional Analysis. However, unlike traditional counselling for other issues, there is also an element of education about your type of addictive behaviour and practical work such as the making of a relapse prevention toolkit, where I integrate theories such as CBT or creative work.  

These are some of the addictive behaviours that I can offer you support with. If you have a different behaviour that is not on this list, do get in touch! 

Alcohol

Cigarette Smoking, Nicotine Dependence, Tobacco Chewing, Vaping

Computer Gaming

Exercise: Compulsive Exercising

Food Addiction: Binge Eating, Compulsive Eating, Processed Food, Sugar & Carbohydrates Dependence

Gambling

Hoarding

Pornography & Sex Addiction

Shopping Addiction and Overspending

Social Media, Internet Addiction, Mobile Phone Scrolling, Television

Working Addiction

*I do not offer support for drug or prescription drug use including cannabis, in private practice, as these issues are not, in my opinion, suitable for online therapy only*

I am fully qualified with a First Class Honours degree in Counselling. I am an experienced online therapist and hold specific certificates from the Open University to offer therapy in this way. 

I am a very experienced addictions therapist with ten years experience as a senior counsellor for a well known Surrey addictions charity and three years of working with addictive behaviours online in private practice. 

I work with adults aged 18 and over, offering both short and long-term therapy which can be weekly or fortnightly.  Full sessions are a full one hour long and I also offer half-hour 'check-in' sessions for £28 which can be put in-between full sessions if needed to help with relapse prevention. Sessions are booked and paid for one at a time and you can end at any time. I normally recommend at least 12 sessions and this often works well. You can of course have more than 12 sessions.  Once you have been a regular client you can 'drop in' for one off sessions as and when you need them. 

I am happy to work purely through talking or I am happy to work with you creatively as well if this is something you enjoy and would find useful. 

I am also a registered member of the Association of Christian Counsellors. I work with all faiths and none and will only incorporate faith if you introduce it as important to you. I am happy to work in an entirely secular way if this is a preference.

I offer a free 30 minute, no obligation, initial consultation.

I offer a free 30 minute initial consultation either by Zoom WhatsApp video call, where we can meet each other and you can see if I am the right therapist for you. A very short assessment will be undertaken in this time to help me understand your addictive behaviour.

If you decide you would like to go ahead, in our first session I will be interested to learn more about your addictive behaviour and explore with you what you feel the issues are behind your behaviour. We will also explore how we can get going at reducing your addiction. 

If you have any special requirements to make therapy accessible for you, such as a personal assistant, carer or interpreter being present in your sessions do contact me, I would be happy to explore your needs with you.