My name is Allison Brown and I offer a range of therapeutic services in
West Yorkshire. The service covers individual counselling for adults and
young people as well as supervision and service consultancy work.
I have extensive experience including working with bereavement,
suicide and self harm as well issues surrounding self development
and relationships. I have worked within staff support in large
organisations and my MA is in managing change within organisations.
I have counselling experience within student services at
Universities, hospices and the voluntary sector including the
Samaritans.
I adopt an integrative approach to therapy that can be tailored to
individual needs ranging from understanding past experiences through
to a coaching approach that may help with current issues and
planning for future change.
I have experience working as a school counsellor, managing services
for children and young people, and as a clinical lead.
I am a fully qualified counsellor, and am a senior accredited member
of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP)
and work to their code of ethics. My senior accreditation is for my
work with children and young people and indicates a level of
experience that is recognised by this professional body. I also have
Enhanced criminal records bureau disclosures that are required for
any person working with children and young people and I hold a full
level of insurance to cover my work.
NB: Please contact your provider to check eligibility.
SERVICES
THE SERVICES I OFFER
Adult counselling
I am a senior accredited member of the British Association for
Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and this gives you confidence that
my work is ethical and offered within safe clinical boundaries. Therapy
may be requested to consider the past, as well as current challenges in
life and is about empowering and supporting people to understand
experiences and to consider choices and make changes in their lives if
appropriate.
Therapists do not possess magic wands and good therapy is by no means a
passive process. In many cases therapy can be challenging, but
challenging in a safe and supportive way where the direction is always
taken from you.
If you are interested in arranging therapy sessions please contact me
for an initial discussion.
Trauma Focussed Therapy
I offer both trauma informed and trauma focussed therapy - Trauma
focussed work may be helpful for people who have experienced or
witnessed specific traumatic events. I have a certificate in Trauma
focussed therapy that includes specific training and assessment in
all of the key competencies for effective trauma therapy. I work in
a way that utilises these competencies within a three phase model
of trauma work that links to the way the body and mind process
memories and events, and how Trauma affects this.
Although there are significant similarities in how the brain and
nervous system work with Traumatic experiences, there is always a
need to tailor therapy options to individual people and I aim to
work with you to create a therapy plan that is appropriate. I work
with adults who have experienced trauma at any point in their lives,
including during childhood.
Counselling for young people
I offer counselling for young people aged 14 and over, normally with
parental consent. I have experience working with young people in
school, college and University who have experienced a wide range of
difficulties in their lives. I have experience of managing and
supervising in different therapeutic services for children and young
people for over 15 years. I understand the needs of young people in
therapy and am able to offer tailor-made therapeutic solutions that
are based around individual needs.
Parents or carers may attend the initial session. Subsequent
sessions are usually with the young person alone and remain
confidential. Young people are able to request parental
involvement and information sharing if required.
Individual supervision
My supervision training is based around a Transactional analysis
view of supervision that builds on the Hawkins and Shohet model.
I also uncorporate an integrative approach that incorporates the
cyclical supervision model of Page and Wosket. I believe that as
with good therapy, good supervision demands a quality of
relationship where the real challenges of client work can be
explored in their full depth.
Additionally, BACP have put in place a set of core compentencies
in specific relation to supervising therapeutic work with
children and young people. They recommend that supervisors hold
their own experience of working with this client group. I have
over 8 years experience of supervising therapists who work with
adults, couples, children and young people in a wide range of
counselling settings. I am senior accredited by BACP both for
therapeutic work with Children and Young people as well as for
the supervision of individuals.
My experience includes many years working as a school therapist
in both primary and secondary education. I have built up
thousands of hours working therapeutically with children, young
people and adults. I have manage a school counselling service,
and work privately with children and young people if requested.
I have been a clinical lead for young peoples services, and am
experienced in managing risk and complexity within therapeutic
work.
Additional services
Group supervision
I offer group supervision on a tailor-made basis dependent on
specific service and organisational requirements. Supervision within
a group setting can bring together the benefits of strong reflective
practice as well as peer discussion and collaborative thinking.
For services, a group supervision approach in conjunction with
individual supervision can enhance a service approach to the
therapeutic work as well as providing space for peer support around
casework. Similar processes can be helpful for groups of therapists
who want a facilitated approach to enhance their overall supervision
provision. Groups can have a specific client group in mind, for
example adolescents, or can be structured around specific group
requirements.
Group supervision and reflective practice sessions can also be
established in schools or within your own organisations and are not
restricted to therapists. Anyone working with mental health
presentations and emotional health can request group facilitation
which can be provided on site if appropriate.
Consultancy
I offer therapy service setup and development consultancy. I have
specific experience setting up counselling services in schools and
for children and young people. Consultation can include policy
development, service delivery and advice around new services and
existing services undergoing change.
Current Charges
Service
Charge
Individual therapy (appointments before 5pm)
£60/session
Individual therapy (appointments 5pm or after)
£65/session
Individual supervision
£60/hour (£90/1.5 hours)
Individual supervision for trainee therapists
£50/hour (£75/1.5 hours)
Group supervision and consultancy
Contact me for pricing
TESTIMONIALS
TESTIMONIALS
The following comments are just some that have been kindly given by
clients and supervisees for use on this website and I appreciate that
people have allowed me to use them in this way - Thank you to you all,
Allison.
Testimonials from adult clients
From the first session you put me at ease and had a warm and
comforting presence. You helped me connect to what is important to
me which I use to find my purpose and value. I have developed a more
flexible way of thinking which has eased my anxiety in the way I
approach things. I learnt from your reflections and grounding
presence helping me to calmly consider the steps I take.
I have found working with Allison invaluable in helping me develop a
greater awareness about myself allowing me to become more comfortable
in my day to day life.
Allison’s support, warmth and curiosity was the key to helping me
free myself from old ideas about myself.
I really appreciated how you navigated my need to explore both myself
and my growing knowledge of therapeutic theory. I learnt a huge
amount thanks to your skill and really feel that I have grown as a
person, as a consequence. Thank you.
Allison is really helpful; she listens attentively and remembers the
small details. She has helped me with my aniexty by teaching
techniques on how to better manage it.
Allison was very kind, gentle and constructive in her approach and
enabled me to work in the way that I chose. Her knowledge and
experience are self-evident and gave me a lot of confidence in the
work we were doing. I felt genuinely heard and understood in the
sessions and that my experiences and feelings had value.
I started seeing Allison for anxiety. Throughout our sessions I was
able to explore the roots of this anxiety, why it impacts on my
daily life the way it does and how I can challenge these feelings.
With Allison's help, I uncovered the significance of various
experiences which helped me to accept the feelings I have as "real"
and "OK" (my words). I found it very helpful to discover more
information about how memories are stored, or not, which has helped
me to look at my life experiences in a more objective fashion and
be more accepting of the feelings those have generated.
I really appreciated it when you helped verbalise thoughts when i
couldn't articulate them. I found that very helpful. You always
checked it was needed and was clear it wasn't intended to "put
words in my mouth". I can struggle to get thoughts out so this
helped me very much.
I have come so far thanks in no small part to our sessions
and the tools you have given me. I feel I am in a much better
place. The changes I have made make life so much easier to
navigate. It truly has changed my life. I would like to say a huge
thank you to you. I found you in a time where I think I had lost
myself totally, now I feel like a version of me I am happy to be.
Thank you again Allison, I will never be able to ever repay you
for what you helped me achieve.
I am more than happy with the services Allison provided and
she helped me along my way to a 100% recovery.
I would recommend Allison to anyone looking to examine their life,
thoughts and decisions. All aspects of my life have changed in the
nine months I have been working with her. Her careful, thoughtful
challenges have helped me to unpick my thoughts. I leave the
therapy feeling ready and excited for the future. I cannot
recommend Allison highly enough.
Counselling gave me a place to discuss my thoughts and helped me when I
was at my darkest place.
Really appreciate how non-judgemental Allison was throughout all of our
sessions. I honestly feel I couldn't have got through the last few months
without her even though I know she will say I did all the hard work.
It is hard to convey how Allison has helped me, without
writing an essay! She is incredibly understanding and insightful and
has gently guided me through very painful experiences, helping me to
face them, understand them and put them into perspective. I feel as
though I have been on a life changing journey. It hasn't been easy, but
it's been worth it. I could not have done this without Allison's help.
Allison's patient listening and insightful questions gave me the
space I needed to sort out some 'old history' and find healing.
Allison provided a safe but gently challenging environment which allowed
me to be honest with myself about my feelings.
Allison is a very warm person who puts you at ease immediately. I felt
comfortable with her and had no hesitation in bringing issues forward
which she helped me to explore and gain a deeper understanding of me as
a person and what I wanted from life. She is very empowering. As a
counsellor in training, I found her to be an excellent role model and I
learned a great deal from her. I hope to be as good as her one day.
Thank you.
I'd like to thank you for your help & have really appreciated your
support over the last few months
Allison's counselling skills have supported me through some very
difficult times in my life. She has helped me address painful issues and
move forward and I would recommend counselling to anyone out there who
feels they need a helping hand with life. I can't thank you enough,
Allison.
I wasn't sure what to expect at first but Allison was very
understanding. I found it very worthwhile and would recommend people
to give it a try - I feel much calmer and in control now.
Thank you for all your support - words cannot explain how much it means
to me.
I wanted to say a big thank you for all the help - I am now feeling more
confident and comfortable and it's been good to talk about things that
I've bottled up for years.
Allison is a very approachable and caring counsellor. I instantly felt
at ease with her. I never felt daft discussing anything with her and
she has really helped me through a tough time.
Thank you Allison. Your calm and perceptive approach has helped me to
regain confidence and to take control of my life, once more. Most of
all, you enabled me to listen to myself and to trust my own judgement
again.
Allison has been a fantastic help and support to me in the last six
months. I had a lot of deep-rooted personal issues that needed to be
addressed. Talking to Allison has helped me address and understand
how to overcome them. Her calm and non-judgemental approach made it
easier for me to talk.
I would strongly recommend Allison to anyone that is thinking of having
counselling. The only regret I have is I left it too late - Oh, and
this is a 35 year old man, so counselling really is for anyone!
Working with Allison is enabling me to address a number of issues that
have been impacting on every aspect of my life. The difference in my
relationships and how I am able to experience situations is significant.
Counselling sessions with Allison are enabling and empowering, allowing
me to see topics of discussion in a new light. I feel able to explore
issues with Allison I may be reluctant or unwilling to with friends or
family. Talking to her gives me the space and time to identify
problems and to reach my own decisions regarding how to deal with them.
Allison creates just the right safe and secure environment for you to
talk, cry and think. Counselling isn't easy but you will leave
feeling better for it; that a weight has been lifted and that the hurt
is unravelling. I recommend Allison without hesitation.
I've found Allison to be extremely supportive and warm. My sessions
with her have helped 'move me forward'.
Allison was a great help to me when I felt I was at my lowest point,
and taught me ways to deal with it and gave me lots of positives about
myself when I don't think I had any.
Testimonials from young people service
Parent
Initially we were just looking to find some help for our daughter. We
quickly realised that Allison was able to help our daughter to break
down her problems and approach them more strategically with a range
of coping mechanisms which she learned during the sessions. These
strategies have been a game changer for us and we feel lucky to have
had Allison to help us navigate this difficult journey.
Young person
I was not in a good place in October last year and getting help was a
big step. Working through the coping strategies really, really helped
and by the summer I had enough tools to be able to manage a range of
challenging situations - like GCSE results day. I think I have
learned techniques that will really help me through life.
Parent
I have been pleased with their progress and I can see
they are more thoughtful about their anxiety and the triggers. I
welcomed conversations with Allison about the progress and also a
discussion on if the sessions should continue. I am hopeful for the
year 11 period they have now entered.
Young person
The sessions were really helpful with giving me
coping strategies and talking about the topics that I wanted to talk
about each session.
Testimonials from supervisees
I have loved working with Allison as my supervisor. Our supervision
sessions have felt the perfect mix of feeling heard, supported and
gently challenged where appropriate. I have felt confident to take
any issues or safeguarding concerns to Allison when they have arisen
and have found she has been able to respond quickly, calmly and
competently. I have found Allison to be reliable, easy to talk to
and good humoured. It’s been a privilege working with Allison and I
would really recommend her as a supervisor.
If you are looking for a supervisor I would really welcome you to
contact Allison. I feel very fortunate to have had her to turn to
whenever I needed support. It is a rare quality to be able to bring
so effectively such a breadth of experience and level of
understanding into a role. I could point to many ways this has made
a difference to my life as a counsellor. It is such a comfort to
know that whatever I have to work through Allison will know where
I'm coming from and engage with a 'process' that seems to put
clarity where there was confusion and confidence where there was
self-doubt.
I would describe my supervision sessions as being engaging,
supportive and thought-provoking. I always feel listened to and
never judged. I find it a very valuable process.
Allison is an experienced and extremely competent supervisor. She is
always able to create a space within which I can reflect on my
practice. She has a natural and warm professional manner and is able
to provide support and challenge appropriately. Her suggestions for
further resources or reading to support my practice has been
invaluable too. Supervision from Allison enables me to manage my own
relational responses as well as providing me with the mechanisms I
need to maintain the safest and most competent practitice I can for
my clients.
Allison is supportive but questioning and has allowed me a safe space
to reflect on my practice and experiences in my career. I have
developed as a confident therapist over the time we have worked
together.
CONTACT
CONTACT ME
I am happy to be contacted by email, telephone or by sending a message
using the button below.
I am located in Mirfield, West Yorkshire
King Street, Mirfield, West Yorkshire
07971 807 790
counselling@allison-brown.co.uk
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Send me a message
PRIVACY STATEMENT
Information is held and processed in line with Data protection and
GDPR requirements. A copy of the service privacy policy is available
on request, and details are discussed with all prospective clients.
