Alethea Cooper

I currently have some availability Monday - Wednesday

Welcome. You may be seeking support because life feels generally difficult at the moment, you have relationship difficulties, are battling past traumas, have low mood, or are anxious. As an integrative counsellor and psychotherapist, I offer a welcoming, safe and confidential space for us to work together, so you feel able to better understand and manage the difficulties you are facing.

I am also a qualified Health Psychologist. This may be helpful if you, or someone close to you, has recently been diagnosed with a medical illness, or is living with a long- term health condition. I can draw on my experiences of working as a health psychologist in the NHS, and my PhD research around the meaning of illness, to support and understand the unique impact this may have for you.

Seeking help and support can feel intimidating, and you may come across some unfamiliar terms. Along with counselling and therapy, different therapy ‘styles or approaches’ are offered.  Being an integrative therapist means that I can draw on different therapeutic approaches according to your needs. In explaining what I can offer you, I hope along the way that I can demystify some of the process for you.

Regardless of the approach that we will use, research has shown that the client-therapist relationship is the key to successful therapy. My non-judgmental, honest, warm approach will help us build a collaborative, trusting relationship. 

The pace of therapy will depend on how safe and comfortable you feel. It can take time to feel ready to face and share some of the issues that have brought you to therapy, but a supportive, holding, confidential space will be the bedrock of our therapeutic work together. I have spent the last two years volunteering in a women’s centre providing long term therapy, and working at depth has depended on my strong client-therapist relationships.  

We will regularly review our work together, talk through progress and any changes in your circumstances or your needs.

I offer an initial free 30 minute Zoom or telephone consultation where we can explore what has brought you to therapy. I can describe how I work, the different therapy types (including what may work best for you), how we can reach any goals you may have or work towards changes you would like to make, and of course answer any of your questions. Most importantly, we can decide if we may be a good ‘fit’ for you to move forward with me.

I work face-to-face in comfortable therapy rooms in Wimbledon and Kingston, South West London. I also work on-line using various platforms.

Being a registered member of the British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists (MBACP). means I have met the recommended quality standards as a professional counsellor/psychotherapist and I work to high ethical standards according to the BACP Ethical Framework.

I am a Chartered Psychologist (CPsychol) and Associate Fellow (AFBPsS) of the British Psychological Society

I am a Health Psychologist (MSc, PhD) and Member of the Division of Health Psychology of the British Psychological Society

I have professional liability insurance.

I am DBS checked (no criminal record and approved to work with vulnerable adults).

I am registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) which means I abide by the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.