Alexander Linley

I currently offer sessions Monday to Friday 10:00 - 18:00, though I may be able to offer some sessions later in the evening if necessary.  

I was a client before I was a counsellor and I know from experience that seeking support isn't always easy. My first priority is to make accessing support as stress free as possible by establishing an informal yet supportive environment. By creating a space which is free of judgement and where there is no problem more or less worthy than another, I'v helped many people work through some of their toughest moments. 

My background is in person-centred counselling, however, over the years I have integrated elements of other disciplines allowing me to respond and adapt my approach to suit my client's needs. 

I've helped clients of various ages and from a range of backgrounds work through issues including anxiety, depression, stress, self-esteem, loneliness, relationships, domestic / sexual abuse, loss and trauma.

As well as face to face sessions, I offer telephone and Zoom sessions as well as outdoor or 'eco' therapy. The outdoor sessions are held in Reddish Vale Country Park and combine the elements of a traditional therapy sessions with the great outdoors. 

Email or text to set up an initial consultation. This is a free-of-charge conversation done over the phone or on Zoom and will take around 20-30 minutes. This will give you the opportunity to ask any questions you may have and will allow me to explain a little more about the service. It will also give you the chance to get a better idea of me and how I work; this is highly important as the relationship is fundamental to the work. 

I currently have spaces available for supervisees. 

My office hours are Monday to Friday 1100-1900. Session can be flexible to fit around your schedule.

Using my experience as a therapist and my training as a supervisor, my goal is to assist you in delivering the best possible service to your clients. 

By helping my supervisees to be more aware of the 'unspoken' elements of client work, I aim to help them deliver a more authentic and helpful therapeutic experience. Whether looking at transference/counter-transference, 'edge of awareness' experiences of clients or parallel processes, my goal is to help my supervisees to become more aware of what's going on within the sessions they deliver. 

Using the seven-eyed model as a basis, our sessions will be structured around specific aspects of the client/counsellor relationship depending on the needs of the supervisee. My background in the person-centred approach ensures that, whilst structured, there will be plenty of space within the sessions to explore and to work very much in the moment. 

As a supervisor I believe that both support and challenge are essential for growth and I strive to assist my supervisees in getting what they need in order to work at their best. 

Based in Houldsworth Mill, my office is spacious and comfortable. My aim was to create a space in which clients and supervisees alike would feel instantly at home and therefore better able to relax into the process. Having experienced therapeutic spaces which consisted of plastic chairs and fluorescent lighting, I have done all I can to bring the comforts of home to my working environment.  

First contact will be a consultation which is free of charge. This can be done face to face, over Zoom or over the phone and generally takes around 30 minutes. 

During the consultation, I will ask about your practice, client base and various other aspects of your work. This is also a valuable opportunity for potential supervisees to build a picture of me - both me the person and me the supervisor. I encourage all potential supervisees to use the consultation to ask anything they feel might be relevant or just they they're curious about.