About Alison Lawrence

  Counsellor

I offer online counselling via video call or via email. You are very welcome to email me at alisondlawrence@gmail.com for more information or to arrange a trial online counselling session.

You can also find me on facebook at Accessible Counselling- Alison Lawrence

Contact number UK 07746 295462 International +44 7746295462

I have considerable experience working in different roles with adults who have physical or sensory disabilities, chronic fatigue or mental health issues. I work in a neurodivergency affirming way with autistic individuals as well as ADHD, dyspraxia and dyslexia. In addition I work with people to analyse the effects of life events and caring roles on their sense of self and identity.   I am passionate about creating equal opportunities for all individuals.

 I work with Individuals aged 18 years and over.

The benefits of online counselling:

Our lives are increasingly being lived in an online world, whether it is communication via email or video conferencing, or use of social media as well as finding learning and work opportunities. It is therefore unsurprising that counselling using online resources such as webcam, live chat or email has developed with the rise of the online world.

I am  offering online counselling as it provides the flexibility for individuals to find a counsellor they feel comfortable working with. It enables people to access support in a way that is convenient in terms of location and timing.  Individuals can engage with a counsellor from a convenient private space, such as their own home, without the need for travel. It can also work around other commitments such as caring roles or unpredictable working hours. Online counselling also incurs slightly lower costs so this can make it a more affordable counselling option.

Online counselling can feel less threatening and stressful to start with and therefore enable you to feel safer discussing more difficult topics. It can provide the opportunity to express yourself verbally via a 1 hour weekly webcam meeting. There is also the option for text counselling. This can be using a reliable text response services for a 1 hour weekly meeting. A third option is sending your thoughts and concerns via a weekly email of roughly 500- 800 words and receiving a therapeutic counselling response. This can be useful if making a set appointment would not be possible.  The text based work can be kept as a useful record for you to review and reflect upon.

 My Counselling Approach

The online counselling that I offer comes in 3 overlapping stages. It will include regular reviews of what you want to achieve from counselling and what you are finding useful within the counselling relationship.

About My Psychodynamic Counselling Style

There are a very wide range of counselling styles available. At the core they all aim to provide a safe place for you to talk about your self and areas of concern or distress in your life. Psychodynamic counselling started from the work of Sigmund Freud and has developed from there into a style of counselling that listens to experiences in your early life, your current life and your experience of the counselling relationship.

The style allows both client and therapist to observe learnt patterns in behaviour, emotions and thinking that may be unhelpful in managing the demands of a client’s current life. The aim is to look for hidden patterns for example in repeated experiences, emotions and behaviours to increase self knowledge. I then work to apply this knowledge to work towards your counselling aims and to enable you to promote your own well-being.

If you would like any further information on different counselling styles you can consult the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy website.