Qualifications
Post Grad. Cert. Child & Adolescent Counselling & Psychotherapeutic Skills
B.A. (Hons.) Counselling & Psychotherapy
Professional Memberships
Irish Association of Counselling & Psychotherapy
Biography
Alison is a compassionate and warm counsellor & psychotherapist who works with children, adolescents and adults, in a safe, non-judgemental, respectful way, where any difficulty or emotion can be explored. Alison helps her adult clients to develop coping strategies for living every day while exploring current issues, past experiences and beliefs about self and others. Alison aims to create a trusting and empathic relationship with clients, where they can feel accepted, respected and understood.
With her younger clients, Alison uses materials appropriate to their developmental stage to help the child or adolescent share and work through difficult emotions or experiences, learn about boundaries and limitations but also their strengths and potentials. She helps the client to recognise unhelpful behaviours, become more aware of choice and consequence and develop positive coping strategies. Her aim is for the client to become more self-accepting, building resilience, confidence and general wellbeing.
Alison uses the first two sessions to evaluate each client’s needs to develop a therapeutic plan. During therapy she may use tools and techniques such as: psychoeducational learning, ego building, CBT, relaxation, mindfulness and play therapy materials and activities.
Alison has worked both at home and abroad with individuals from varied cultural and religious backgrounds and more recently in crisis intervention. She has experience of working with depression, anxiety, bereavement and loss, trauma, domestic violence, abuse, family issues, relationship difficulties, relocation issues, work problems, low self-esteem, sexual orientation, suicidal ideation, self-harm, parenting issues and bullying.
Alison is currently completing a Masters in Child & Adolescent Counselling & Psychotherapeutic Skills