I came to counselling through all my previous ‘helping’ roles.

These being: Working with ‘hidden victims of crime’, (as a volunteer for the probation service), working with the homeless as a listening ear and supporting parents and children in a welfare role at a primary school for 12 years.

I have always been the person people come to if they are worried, seeking clarity around a particular issue or requiring support generally.

Whilst this is an honoured position to be in, it held great responsibility. This led me to training as a counsellor, (and hypnotherapist), so that I could carry on supporting people in a

way that maintained boundaries within the context of an ethical framework.

I regularly attend continuous professional development courses in order to offer you the latest understanding, knowledge and relevant expertise.  So far these have included: Using Hypnotherapy with children and young people Working directly with Trauma using Eye Movement Desensitisation Reprogramming (EMDR) and Visual Kinaesthetic Rewind Technique (VKRT), Working with Creative Art in Therapy,  Awareness in Bereavement Care Foundation course, Safeguarding Sudden and Traumatic Death, Transactional Analysis 101 to name but a few.

I am an accredited member of the National Counselling Society – Membership Number NCS20-01282

Counselling is a talking therapy where you can talk in confidence to a trained counsellor/psychotherapist. They help you find ways to deal with difficulties in your life, in a non judgemental and supportive environment.Counselling sessions are also confidential, so you can talk about things you might not feel comfortable discussing with anyone else. The aim is to help you find better ways to understand yourself, or to bring about changes to help you manage the way you think, or behave, in order to improve your mental and emotional well-being.

For some people this process may take only a few sessions, for others it may be long term work, depending on what the issue is you are addressing.

As an ethical counsellor, I will provide you with a contract.

A counselling contract ensures that the counselling process will be performed in a good, safe and professional manner and highlights the responsibilities of the counsellor towards clients, as well as the responsibilities of the client towards the counsellor. A counselling contract is also a transparent basis for informed consent.

You are under no obligation to attend a set amount of sessions, and if at any time you no longer wished to attend counselling, an ‘endings session’ would be advised.

This ensures you are in an emotionally stable state of mind, so that you are moving forward in a safe and supported way.

Important:

Whilst an extremely important part of counselling is confidentiality, meaning that the information discussed in session will be accessible only by you and your counsellor, there are a few exceptions to breaking confidentiality: (if you are at harm to yourself or others, involved in terrorism, drug trafficking and money laundering).

I am an integrative and psychotherapeutic counsellor and understand that people are diverse and complex.

Because ‘one size’ never fits all, I tailor therapy to the individual needs of the client, using a warm, non judgemental, and blended approach.

I also incorporate an holistic element to my work, focusing on a person’s overall wellness not just their issue.

Some of the techniques I use are: Using creative art in therapy, Transactional Analysis, (Introductory level), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Working with Grief and Loss, (I am a Cruse Bereavement Volunteer with over two years experience of working with a range of bereavement circumstances), Trauma work using Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR), Visual Rewind Technique and Creative Art.   Counselling for depression using the Counselling for Depression competence framework.

During my time as a counsellor I have worked with:

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Stress
• Weight
• Eating Problems
• Relationships
• Neurodiversity
• Anger
• Trauma including Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Self Harm
• Suicidal Ideation
• Low Self Esteem
• Lack of Confidence
• Self Defeating Behaviour
• Panic Attacks
• Sleep
• Hoarding
• Feeling overwhelmed
• Lack of motivation
• Obsessive–Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
• Divorce

If there is anything you would like support with, but it is not on the list, please contact me and we can discuss your issue, to see if I am able to help.

If I cannot, I may be able to signpost you to someone who can.

During this time of uncertainty and crisis I am here for you.  Although we can’t meet at the moment, I’m happy to talk over the phone or do a video call through FaceTime (apple devices only) Skype, Google Hangout or Zoom.  All these video meeting apps are secure and free to use over the internet on a 1 to 1 basis.  Due to the financial circumstances at present, my rates are accessible to all.

Hypnotherapy uses the ancient technique of hypnosis to help you bring about any changes you may wish to make, using your own powerful subconscious mind. (Hypnosis was first used in the Western World in 1770).

Hypnotherapy is a therapy that uses hypnosis, a skilled verbal communication which helps direct a client’s imagination in such a way as to bring about intended alterations in sensations, perceptions, feelings, thoughts and behaviour. In a typical hypnotherapy session, the hypnotherapist will make you extremely relaxed in order for you to receive the hypnotic suggestion that will help bring about the change required. Hypnosis is when you are in the ‘trance’ state, this is a perfectly safe condition to be in – the ‘trance’ state is when you are in a totally relaxed state of mind and body.

You are always in control, you cannot be ‘made’ to violate your own values or accepted patterns of behaviour whilst like this. (Hypnotherapy by definition is an altered state of consciousness).

People may choose to have hypnotherapy for a variety of reasons:- They may want to learn to relax deeply; to change an unwanted habit; to conquer a fear such as public speaking or to enhance an aspect of their lives such as sports performance.

When you meet with a hypnotherapist for the first time they will explore exactly what you want to achieve and how hypnotherapy may be able to help.  Hypnotherapy works with the power of your subconscious mind and can often create positive benefits in a relatively short space of time. Hypnotherapy is approved by the Royal Society of Medicine as an effective therapy for a whole variety of issues – and is not to be confused with such things as stage hypnosis.

An ethical hypnotherapist will work with you to enhance your wellbeing and will certainly not do anything to make you feel foolish, embarrassed or uncomfortable. They most definitely will not make you cluck like a chicken!  Everything that you discuss will be kept in the strictest confidence.

Hypnotherapy uses the ancient technique of hypnosis to help you bring about any changes you may wish to make, using your own powerful subconscious mind. (Hypnosis was first used in the Western World in 1770). I called myself Power of You Hypnotherapy because Hypnotherapy is about the power within you to make change possible. The power of the subconscious mind is an amazing tool, if you believe, it will happen.

Hypnotherapy can be effective with a variety of different issues. If you want to make positive changes in your life it can be an excellent motivator. There may be things from your past that you would like to explore or there may be things in the present that you want to try and change. An ethical hypnotherapist will never claim to ‘cure’ you, but they will explain how hypnotherapy may be able to help, or even lessen the symptoms that are restricting your overall wellbeing. Hypnotherapy may be able to help with issues like those listed below:

• Changing habits/ modifying behaviour, e.g.
• Healthy eating
• Stop smoking
• Lose weight (Therapy can only be carried out if your BMI=Body Mass Index), is over 30 – if your BMI is less than this it would not be ethical to help you lose weight, but I may be able to help you achieve/maintain healthier eating habits)
• Self Confidence
• Shyness
• Self esteem
• Public speaking
• Relaxation
• Sleep
• Emotional Issues
• Anxiety
• Stress
• Exam nerves
• Job Interviews
• Driving
• Depression
• Coping with pain

Phobias such as:

• Spiders
• Flying

This list is not exhaustive, if you do not see what you would like support with please ring and ask. If I cannot help you, then I may be able to signpost you to someone who can.

I charge £25 for the initial consultation (up to one hour) and then £50 per hour.  If a course of therapy is required then we can discuss the ongoing costs accordingly.  Cash or bank transfer are the two current ways to pay.

I have extensive experience with helping clients overcome their concerns and issues.  Here are just a few of my testimonials.

“Alison helped me overcome my fear of flying.  i now fly regularly with my family on holidays all over the world.”   RG

“My ten year old daughter was suffering from massive anxiety.  With Alison’s help she is now fully engaged in all aspects of school life.  Thanks Ali!”   DW

“I was suffering from terrible insomnia.  By exploring all the details of my sleeping habits with Alison and having a course of hypnotherapy and counselling I now sleep soundly.”   MB

“Alison helped improve my confidence after a relationship break up.  She helped me to realise my self worth and move on.”   PB

Our successful workshops, mixing Pilates and Hypnotherapy ran through 2019.   The Pilates focused on muscle relaxation combined with strengthening the numerous muscles of the body.  Muscular imbalances are typically the culprit when it comes to most injury in the body.  The main reason for these imbalances are your core.

A weak core often plays a role in this muscular imbalance, and that’s where Pilates starts: by building core strength.  The core is known as the centre of the body for good reason. Its deep abdominal muscles are closest to the spine, and when those muscles are weak so is everything supported around it.  By strengthening the core, alignment can find its natural base, while building a stronger foundation for when you move (and where you move from).

I am based in Lancing, West Sussex. There are excellent road, rail and bus connections.