Alison Souster

My office hours are Tuesday - Friday 10.30 to 7pm

I am currently working Online to help keep everyone safe and support those with anxiety throughout this uncertain period. I understand how frightening the unknown can make you feel, believing we no longer have control. Working together we can help to create a new normal and balance. Enabling feelings of calmness and control when everything is changing around us.

I have a very wide portfolio of experience working with Adults, and young people I am able to quickly develop trusting relationships with my clients enabling a strong working and confidential experience. Being Psychodynamic trained enables deeper insight into personal trauma, helping the individual to understand the cause of their pain. Looking at past experiences can help our understanding of current behaviours; that sometimes make us feel stuck in a cycle of repeated patterns. Together we can explore your difficulties, uncovering what is holding you back. Identifying personal needs, aims and ambitions. I recognise and respect we are all individual and have a unique identity with ourselves and the outside world. All work between us will be tailored to your individual needs.

How Counselling can work for you

Working at a deeper level can be difficult and painful at times, however the rewards and benefits of a happier more content life will soon outweigh what can feel like an arduous and long journey. The work we do together can be one of the most unique and rewarding experiences you may ever have and hopefully enable you to be the person you want to be. Counselling can offer you a chance to speak openly without judgement. Perhaps you are struggling with your relationships or struggling with aspects of you working life. Whatever is is you are finding difficult we can face the challenges together.

Commitment to Professional practice

Working at a deeper level can be difficult and painful at times, however the rewards and benefits of a happier more content life will soon outweigh what can feel like an arduous and long journey. The work we do together can be one of the most unique and rewarding experiences you may ever have and hopefully enable you to be the person you want to be. Counselling can offer you a chance to speak openly without judgement. Perhaps you are struggling with your relationships, confidence, self-esteem, or situations that make you feel anxious. Maybe you are struggling with aspects of you working life, Whatever is is you are finding difficult we can face the challenges together.  

Prior to our first session, I will send you a counselling agreement, detailing our commitment to each other during the counselling relationship. I will also send a data information form for your completion. 

I currently have availability for Supervision sessions. I work flexible hours. Tuesday to Friday, days and evenings.

I offer the required 90 minute sessions and am also available in between sessions should you need support.

I will be taking annual leave from 1st December to the 18th December. 

My Supervision practice is guided by the 7 eyed model of supervision. This incorporates the well being of the client, Counsellor and the Supervisory relationship. Ensuring the work is ethical, safe and supportive.  I run group supervision sessions for students and qualified counselors as well as individual. I work across different modalities. Each supervision relationship is,  bespoke, individual, built around your needs and style of working. 

My practice is educational, supportive, informative and most of all nurturing. My experience has shown me that students and newly qualified Counselors require holding more securely, they need a check in space that is autonomous but also of a learning nature. A place where they can speak freely without judgment. I offer a warm open space, whatever level you are at, to allow for anything to be discussed. I have many years of experience in supervision working with young peoples organization's, schools an private practice. Throughout the years I have supported counsellors with a wide variety of issues, understanding that safeguarding is one of the most common causes of distress in practice. My approach is collaborative. Together we work through the process promoting a wider, more expansive view on what is happening in the relationship with the client and between us. I feel that the well being of the Counsellor is equally as important as the client. 

The sessions will be driven by you. Whatever it is you need to talk about we will attend to. If you have a personal issue you need to understand it is key that space is allowed for you to do this, enabling you to then focus on the client work. 

I have had many endorsements from Counselor's,  stating they feel they can be open and talk about anything freely. My supervisees have expressed how much they enjoy supervision and understand the value of it. 

Prior to our first session, I will send you a draft contract. This enables you to read and see if it meets your needs. An opportunity for you to offer any additions or extractions you would like the contract to contain. Again this is a collaborative approach. 

I do like to ask on our initial meeting if there are any personal triggers that you are aware of, anything that you may find difficult to work with, what presentations you may be fearful of.  This enables me to think about how I can meet your needs in terms of safeguarding your mental health and any measures we need to put in place to support you and the work. 

The first sessions is also a time for us to get to know one another. To see if I am the right fit for you. This is the most important ingredient, our ability to connect, for you to feel comfortable  with me. Should you decide it does not work for you, that is perfectly fine, your autonomous choice without judgement.