Andrew Alexander

I work in a confidential space when working online , and I have a safe space at Broadmead Community Church, Broadmead Ave, NN3 2QY where I see clients in person in Northampton.

Due to Work commitments at present I can do Tuesday's, and  Friday's  between 09.00 - 20.00, and every other Saturday afternoon however this will be negotiated with the client.

I have been working in care for over 25 years, consistently performing at my best in roles as a frontline lead support worker with children and young adults facing various challenges including mental health issues, dual diagnoses, emotional and behavioural difficulties, as well as learning disabilities.

For four years, I served as a volunteer Counsellor with the Child Adolescent Bereavement Counselling Service for the NHS, a role that I found profoundly valuable. This service provides essential individual and group bereavement counselling to children and adolescents within Northamptonshire, conducted either in a school setting or at the NHS's children's out-patient department. I take great pride in contributing to this vital service.

My therapeutic approach is founded on maintaining authenticity and transparency, coupled with understanding and empathic connection. I firmly believe that meaningful change can only occur when there is a genuine engagement between myself and my client.

Person-centred therapy, which underpins my practice, is a humanistic approach to psychotherapy. This method places the individual client at the heart of the therapeutic process, focusing on their unique experiences, values, and perspectives. In person-centred therapy, the therapist fosters a safe, non-judgmental environment where the client feels accepted and understood. The therapist adopts a sincere and empathetic stance, aiming to cultivate a strong therapeutic relationship based on trust and mutual respect, sometimes incorporating creative materials appropriate to the client's age.

The key principles of person-centred therapy include:

Unconditional Positive Regard.

The therapist maintains a non-judgmental and accepting attitude toward the client, valuing them as a person regardless of their thoughts, feelings, or behaviours. This unconditional positive regard creates an atmosphere of acceptance, facilitating the client's self-exploration and growth.

Empathy.

The therapist strives to understand the client's subjective experiences and perspectives by reflecting their feelings and thoughts. This empathetic understanding helps the client gain insight into their own experiences and promotes self-acceptance and personal growth.

Congruence.

The therapist aims to be genuine, open, and authentic in their interactions with the client. They express their own feelings and thoughts appropriately, creating an atmosphere of transparency. By being congruent, the therapist models authenticity and encourages the client to be true to themselves.

In person-centred therapy, the client and therapist work together to enhance self-esteem, promote personal growth and self-actualisation, improve emotional well-being, and develop greater self-awareness and self-compassion. It is a collaborative approach where both parties identify and address the client's needs and goals. If the therapist senses additional support is required, this will be discussed with the client and they will be signposted to the appropriate resources.

Counselling provides support for various issues faced by young people and adults, including relationship troubles, stress, anxiety, self-harm, self-esteem struggles, grief, and depression.

Fee:

The cost for each 60-minute session, including the last 10 minutes for notes, is £70.00, payable via BACS or in cash during the appointment. Please use your initials as the reference. Fees are reviewed annually.

Students requiring a counsellor working in person-centred modality are charged at a rate of £50.00 per session (evidence from your training provider will secure this lower rate).

Cancellation Policy:

If I am unwell or need to schedule a break in our work, I will provide as much notice as possible. If I cancel an appointment at short notice, there will be no charge, and I will reschedule it. If you do not attend a session without providing notice, the full fee will still apply.

Providing 7 days' notice allows the community centre to arrange the weekly room plan and gives us time to reschedule without charge. However, if cancellation occurs less than 48 hours before the appointment, you will generally be charged for the session. If you miss any two appointments without prior notice, it will be assumed that you no longer wish to continue, and our sessions will be brought to a close. In case of technical issues during an online session, we will seek alternative ways to contact you (e.g., a phone call). If the session cannot proceed due to technical reasons, we will reschedule it without any charge.

Counselling session times and dates will be agreed upon with you, and a 48-hour notice period is required for cancellation; otherwise, you will be charged for the session. It is advisable to keep a note of the dates and times of your agreed counselling sessions.

Missing 2 or more sessions without informing the Counsellor will result in the termination of the counselling process.

Before the first session, please complete the assessment sheet available on the website and send it back to me. I hope all of the above information is helpful.