Welcome to

Alderbeck Counselling

Working with you on your journey of self- improvement and helping you feel more empowered

Therapy sessions online, by telephone, and in person in Twickenham.

Counselling for individuals in a safe and private setting

Welcome, and thank you for visiting Alderbeck Counselling.

Hi, my name is Helena McKinnon and I am a professional, qualified integrative therapist based in Twickenham. I offer both short-term and open-ended counselling to individuals either online, via Zoom or Teams, via telephone or in person in Twickenham.


Deciding to see a counsellor can be a difficult decision but a courageous first step in seeking support. I appreciate that finding the right counsellor is a very personal choice and can feel like a big decision. It is therefore important to find someone you feel you will be able to trust to share your thoughts and feelings with, and that person is someone you feel will understand you and your concerns.

Helena McKinnon integrative therapist

I recognise that the relationship formed between the client and therapist is of the utmost importance in counselling. I also understand that all clients are unique and have different life experiences, and therefore my goal is to support you to work through the issues you are facing.

You can find out more about my experience & qualifications here.

How can counselling help?

As a counsellor I am here to facilitate a safe and non-judgemental environment for you to explore your concerns, thoughts and feelings as part of your journey of self-awareness, to help you lead a more fulfilling and happier life. I am an integrative therapist and my approach is to work collaboratively with you, to meet your needs, developing and building a trusting and confidential relationship.

Working integratively, means that I draw on a range of theories and techniques to help you gain understanding of how your past may be affecting your current situation, as well as how your thoughts, feelings and behaviours may be impacting you in the here and now. Everyone is individual and the work we do together would be individual to you, working with what you bring and to your needs, at your pace.

Contact me about online, telephone, or in person counselling in Twickenham.

Speak in Confidence

Counselling happens in a safe and confidential space, whether in person in Twickenham, or online/via telephone where you can share your issues and concerns. My role as a counsellor is to create the trusting and confidential environment, through listening empathically, and without judgement so that you can explore at your own pace your thoughts, feelings and behaviours. The intention is for you to understand yourself better and find your own solutions.

Get in touch to book a counselling session online, via telephone or in person in Twickenham, Middlesex.

Sharing Your Problems And Worries

Do you have issues with anxiety or depression or are you dealing with difficult life events or relationship issues? Counselling can help through providing you with the space to explore these issues and your feelings towards them, assisting with the tools to understand the underlying causes of your issues and how you can come to manage them.

Positive Choices

Through the work we do together I can help facilitate the space you need to gain insight into the difficulties you face and enhance your understanding of your resulting feelings and behaviour towards these issues. My role as a counsellor is to help facilitate your decision making as well as your ability to cope, so you can make better, healthier choices.

What issues can counselling help with?

People come to me for help a wide range of issues. Here are a few of the more common difficulties that can be supported through counselling and therapy:

Anxiety

Bereavement

Depression

Health issues

Loneliness and isolation 

Loss and grief

Relationships and family

Self esteem and self worth

Work and stress

Location

I provide both short-term and open-ended therapy to individuals either online via Zoom or Teams, or by telephone.

I can also provide face to face sessions in Twickenham. In person 1-2-1 sessions take place in comfortable private counselling rooms located in Twickeham, I will provide location details when we arrange our therapy sessions.

I see clients from the surrounding areas such Richmond, Teddington, Hounslow, Hampton, Ashford, Brentford, and Fulham.

Contact me to find out more about how face to face or online therapy works.

Fees

Counselling sessions usually take place on weekly basis at the same time each week and cost £60 per 50 minute session.

During the initial session we will undertake an assessment as part of our session. This is for you to see if I am going to be the right counsellor for you, and whether how I work and my approach will suit your needs and requirements. There is no commitment beyond this session unless you choose to continue. This initial session also lasts 50 minutes and costs £60.

Please email me to enquire about availability.

Please note if you need to cancel an appointment 48 hours notice is required otherwise the session will be charged.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if I need counselling?

Only you can decide if counselling is something you would like to try, however, if you are struggling to cope and are finding day-to-day life difficult, you may find it beneficial to seek outside support.

Talking to someone confidentially who is not a friend or family member can be helpful and give you the time and space to explore your feelings or any issues you may be experiencing. Working with a counsellor can help you develop better understanding of yourself and find better ways of coping, allowing you to get the most out of life.

What does therapy feel like?

Therapy is different for everyone. Therapy is a safe place to explore your feelings, and issues or concerns that may be playing on your mind. It can be a relief to express what you may not have been able to share before. Talking to someone who understands, and listens without judgement, can be very helpful.

Having a space where you feel heard, seen and understood can be very moving. You might find yourself getting upset, crying, getting frustrated or angry in therapy or between your sessions. This can feel unsettling, however the purpose of therapy is for you to explore the different emotions that come for you and my role is to support you with that and help you process and cope with the emotions that come up.

How long will I have to wait for an appointment?

I aim to offer an appointment within 1-2 weeks of your enquiry. The first session will be an assessment session where we will discuss your issues and what your goals with therapy will be. We will then arrange suitable timings for your future sessions based upon availability.

What should I expect from my first session?

The first session is a chance to get a sense of how I work, and how we may work together. I will ask you to talk about what brings you to therapy and we will work through some questions on an assessment form, which I will fill in based on your responses. This helps me assess if they I am the right person to help you.

I will ask background information, including around family and relationships, your support network, work and your past, as well as the history of the issue you want to work on. It can be helpful for you to also ask questions, to help inform whether you feel you would be able to work together with me.

Will everything I say be kept confidential?

Confidentiality is one of the main ways in which therapy differs from many other forms of helping - for example, talking to friends or family can rarely offer the same degree of confidentiality as talking to a counsellor. Because of this confidentiality, you will find that - as you get used to coming for therapy - you are freer to talk about whatever you wish to.


No therapist can offer 100% confidentiality: there are some situations where the law requires disclosure of risk (e.g. certain child protection issues) and in common with most other therapists, there are some situations where I may not be able to keep total confidentiality.

In particular, if someone tells me that they are thinking of harming themselves in a way that I believe puts them at serious risk, or if someone tells me that they are doing something that could put others at risk, I may not be able to keep such information confidential. However, breaking confidentiality is rare, and only happens after talking to the person concerned.

Will my therapist give me advice?

I will listen and ask questions, but I won’t tell you what to do, that is not my role. This may feel strange or difficult initially, however, I am there to support you to open up and explore your thoughts and feelings, guiding you through the process. Sometimes just talking about your problems will help you see them in a different light and bring up new ideas you may not have considered.

How long will I need counselling?

There is no set length of time for therapy, it is unique to each person and their individual circumstances. You can decide how long you want to have sessions for. You may choose to have a fixed number of sessions, alternatively you may choose to have an open-ended arrangement, depending upon the depth of your issues.

We can discuss what is most appropriate for you and make an initial arrangement when we first meet. You can also choose to end counselling at any time you wish and we will discuss your goals and aims both when starting and we will re-visit these during the process. Therapy will only continue for only as long as it is of benefit to you.

Can I bring a friend or relative with me?

It is important that when you come for counselling that you feel comfortable and able to discuss your issues and you are free to express how you feel without being worried about other peoples perceptions of the issues that you raise. Having a friend or family member with you is not usually helpful because they may have their own agenda/ opinions. Counselling sessions occur without judgement, however, it is not possible to ensure that if you have friends or family in the session.


When you come for therapy, you may need to explore thoughts, behaviours and associated emotions that you may not have expressed before or that you feel ashamed or embarrassed about, therefore a confidential one-to-one space is essential to facilitate this.

Where can I get help urgently?

Call 999 or go to your local accident and emergency department if someone's life is at risk – for example, they have seriously injured themselves or taken an overdose. Or if you don’t feel you can keep yourself or someone else safe.

Get in touch

Feel free to contact me if you have any questions about how therapy works, or to arrange an initial assessment appointment. Please email via info@alderbeckcounselling.co.uk.

This enables us to discuss the reasons you are thinking of coming to counselling, whether it could be helpful for you and whether I am the right therapist to help.

You can also call me on 07876745071 if you would prefer to leave a message or speak to me first.


© Helena McKinnon

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