Alena is a Person-Centred counsellor. She has a warm and connecting approach which will help you feel safe and valued as a unique person. Her therapy approach centres on building a strong relationship in which you can feel held, seen and understood. She will help you build self-awareness, explore your feelings and work through whatever difficulties you may be struggling with. Her style is genuine, open and interactive whilst letting you explore at your own pace.
Alena holds a Level 5 Diploma in Counselling & Psychotherapy and is an accredited psychotherapist with the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy. She has eight years of practice experience both as a volunteer counsellor and as a psychotherapist in private practice.
Alena works with adults 18+ both individually and as couples. She warmly welcomes all people and has an interest in working with those who identify as LGBT, queer and neurodiverse.
Alena started out working as a trauma therapist supporting women who experienced domestic and sexual abuse. Trauma has remained a strong focus in Alena’s work. She now has a special niche in working with people who have had difficult childhood and young adulthood experiences that impact on their adult lives. The work is about understanding feelings and patterns of behaviour, grieving, finding acceptance and ultimately developing a stronger sense of self.
Alena is also a couples counsellor and works with people who wish to make a difference to their relationship. Often couples seek therapy when they have become emotionally disconnected from each other. The work in therapy is to gently engage in exploring the roots of this disconnection, learning to listen to each other differently and (if appropriate) build a stronger, healthier relationship moving forward. Alena’s emphasis is on supporting the couple to understand each other better, develop more effective communication and to explore each other’s difficulties without blame.
Alena has experience supporting clients with:
- Anxiety
- Stress
- Depression
- Self-esteem and low confidence
- Relationship issues
- Family difficulties
- Adverse childhood experiences
- Trauma
- Abuse
