Alison Sawyer

As from  20th  Jan 2025, I will be working flexible hours on a Monday, Tuesday ,Thursday and Saturday.

Apart from being a counsellor and systemic practitioner (able to work with individuals, the family unit, couples and work place groups) I also offer training in understanding mental health; Attachment Theory, Autistic Spectrum Condition and Trauma & Resillience. 

 I only work with people who want to enter into a counsellling relationship.  I do not work with people whose family or friends, however well meaning, have sent them; this is due to ethical considerations and because work under those circumstances is rarely successful.  I believe we all deserve to maximise our potential and largely live contented healthy lives.  

If  you would like to come along for an initial meeting,  you can gauge if I am the right person to help you achieve your goals and I can assess if I am best placed to help you.

My qualifications include BSc Psychology, Diploma Integrative Humanistic Counselling, Post Grad Diploma in Applied Systemic theory.  I also am committed to continuous personal development via regular workshops, keeping up to date with current literature and keeping healthy as a person/practitioner.      

As from 20th January 2025 I will be working largely from my separate private comfortable cabin, situated in Lewson Street, Norton. (Between Teynham and Faversham).  There is parking on site.

Following an initial assessment I tend to recommend a block of six weekly sessions followed by a review.  By this time, I find people largely know if they find the counselling process I offer and the counsellor (me) a good fit for them or not.  Six sessions is also usually enough time for me to ascertain if a referral on to somebody with a different skill set would be more beneficial to you. -eg if you feel you need to be assessed for a diagnosis, a clinical psychologist or psychiatrist may be your best course of action. 

I am an integrative counsellor which means I have lots of different ways of working and will tailor your sessions to suit your needs.  My training is broad and varied with a Psychology degree as a foundation, a humanistic integrative counselling diploma as a tool kit to help you and a systemic diploma in order to keep an eye on the relational aspects of your life .  Attachment theory and early development also plays a part in the way I work as does neuro science which I have found has freed many people up from excessive feelings of 'anger, anxiety, blame and shame' in relation to past and present events. 

I enjoy what I do and helping people become more aware of their stengths and helping them to apply those to their goals, is a priviledge.    

The 1st session is an initial assessment and lasts approximately an hour and a half. This session allows me to ascertain if I believe I am best placed to help you in the first instance and gives you the opportunity to find out if you feel comfortable with me.  It is important that your current circumstances are settled and safe enough for you to be able to use the counselling process.  

The 1st session is in part about information gathering.  I have a pre-assessment questionnaire I can send out prior to your 1st visit in order to cut down on some of the questions in the assessment but appreciate, some people do not want to give out personal details until they are sure they are going to work with me.  All information taken is confidential and stored securely in accordance with current regulations.

Most therapy literature suggests that the best indicator of good outcomes for the client, is the good, trusting, reciprocal relationship between therapist and client.  With this in mind, if you are not comfortable with your therapist, try another until you find at least a 'good enough' fit for you.  

Assessment sessions are charged at a rate of £50 per hour and are usually about 1.5hrs in length.