Elizabeth Buckwell

Availability to take on new clients.

I am a fully qualified integrative counsellor who works with children, young people and adults in a safe, confidential space where you can talk about whatever is troubling you. We can work in person, online or on the telephone.

When our thoughts, feelings and behaviours are affecting us and having a negative impact on our wellbeing, counselling sessions can provide an opportunity to gain insight towards making positive changes, so you feel more in control of your life.

However, taking the steps to seek counselling can be hard, as talking about painful and difficult emotions can feel unsettling and daunting. Finding the right counsellor can seem overwhelming. By building a professional therapeutic relationship that is accepting and non-judgemental, I will help you feel supported, listened to, valued and understood.

As an integrative counsellor, I’m not tied to one way of working but can select the best approaches to suit the difficulties you may bring to each session. No matter how big or small your problems are, I’m here to support you.

My role is not to tell you what you should or shouldn’t do, but rather to work alongside you to help you gain greater insight and understanding of what drives your patterns of behaviour. We can explore how you relate to others so that you can consider the options and make positive changes in your life to help you feel more in control. The answers are within yourself.

Prior to being a counsellor, I worked in the NHS as a clinical radiographer and university lecturer. I have worked even longer in teaching and pastoral roles within the education sector as an Emotional Literacy Support Assistant (ELSA).

As an integrative counsellor, I individually tailor my approach to suit you and the issues you wish to bring by using a range of theoretical approaches. I’m qualified to work with adults, children and young people. Sessions can take place either in person in a comfortable counselling room in Alton, Hampshire, online or on the telephone.

I’ve experience being a counsellor within a further education college, providing counselling for students (16+) and staff members.

I’m experienced in bereavement, loss and grief, and volunteered for several years for a national bereavement agency providing support for bereaved adults, young people and children.

More recently, I’ve worked with clients in my own private practice. I’ve experience helping clients with issues such as anxiety, anger, stress, depression, low mood, gender identity, sexuality, self-harm, neurodivergence, terminal illness, relationships and self-esteem.

Sometimes it’s hard to express in words difficult experiences, thoughts and emotions. In these situations, I sometimes use creative approaches such as cards, drawing, worksheets, sand tray work, shells and stones. It can be particularly effective with young people, neurodivergent clients and those who encounter difficulties expressing themselves.

I hold an enhanced DBS certificate and am fully insured and ICO registered. I have completed safeguarding and Prevent training.

Professional counselling qualifications:

• Diploma in Counselling Children & Young People (11-18 years) – Level 5 (CPCAB)
• Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling - Level 4 (CPCAB)
• Counselling Studies Level 3 (CPCAB)
• Counselling Skills Level 2 (CPCAB)
• Transactional Analysis 101 (TA 101)

Additional training:

• Cruse Bereavement Support Foundation Course
• Cruse Bereavement Support Children & Young People’s Module
• Emotional Literacy Support Assistant (ELSA training) - Hampshire Educational Psychology
• MA in Education

I regularly enhance my clinical skills through studying short courses and CPD workshops.

Finding a counsellor you can trust and connect with is essential so you can explore your thoughts and feelings openly. To begin with, I offer a free 30-minute (no obligation) confidential phone or video call so that you can ask any questions you may have. This also provides a good starting point for you to explain what brings you to therapy and what you would like to achieve from the sessions. If, after this, we both feel happy, a first session can be arranged. This will be chargeable at my session rate.

This first session will give us an opportunity to get to know each other better and for you to experience the ways in which I work. We’ll talk through how counselling and psychotherapy can help you reach your goals and establish the best way forward. It will be entirely your decision if you choose to book further sessions.

If we decide to work together, the sessions will be reviewed at agreed intervals (usually every 4-6 sessions), and we will look at how the sessions are progressing and where you feel you are in terms of your goals.

I can guide you to more appropriate help if we decide I am not the right counsellor for you.

Sessions usually happen weekly at the same time and day, lasting 50 minutes. The fee for each session is £50.