Find your therapist

My name is Alva Spencer, I am the director of dearalva the Psychological therapy and counselling service. I am currently based in the ​​​​Greater Manchester area as a therapist, delivering face to face sessions, video calls and private phone calls.

I completed my Clinical and Pastoral Counselling Skills Level 6 course at Glasgow Caledonian University in 2007. I am also registered member of the BACP.​​​​​​​​​
 

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I am passionate in helping people find a happier way of being with greater fulfillment in their life. Whatever is causing you difficulty, I believe that things can be different for you. You may feel any mix of feelings that impact your life and relationships negatively. Any are valid and, I feel, are a communication to what may be going on within. I offer compassion and understanding without any judgement in a space in which we can truly get to know what is difficult. In this space we can gently explore anything that troubles you so that we may work through any issues together, no matter how big or small you feel it is.

I work from a psychodynamic approach which explores how the person you have become today is a result of all of your past experiences and may impact how you relate to others and yourself today. Prior to private practice, I have worked within the N.H.S as an honorary psychotherapist, in Secure units and have also taught Counselling Courses.
I understand that starting this journey may feel daunting. Our work together will move at your pace and will be confidential. If you would like to start or fear starting, please call for an informal chat so that we might get a feel for each other. This way you can get a sense if I am the right therapist for you.

Welcome to my counselling service…

I am a Person-Centred therapist but I also use CBT and Solution Focus approach when required.
I have a broad range of adult and young people’s clients covering a range of issues including anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, personality disorders, and relational issues. I can work with issues that relate to trauma, PTSD, loss, anger management, addiction, eating disorder, social anxiety, OCD, and substance misuse.
I can say I am passionate about counselling, which helps to empower clients, enabling them to live fulfilling lives.

I hold a BA (Hons) Degree in Counselling and Psychotherapy and MSc in Psychology. I am also a life and Health and Wellness coach.

Hello. My name is Anna and the thing I love most about counselling is the incredible, diverse mix of people that I am lucky enough to work with.

I work in a Person Centred way which means I hounour the pace of each client and work to their requirements. I make it my aim to understand exactly how things are for each person in order to validate their feelings and experiences and to lessen their pain with a view to working towards a more contented way of being.

I’m experienced in working with both adults and school age pupils and when I’m not working from home, I work one day a week at a secondary school.

Please feel free to get in touch and I will do everything I can to make your counselling experience enriching and empowering in equal measure.

I have many years of experience as a Counsellor and Hypnotherapist helping clients overcome various deep-seated issues. It is the individual’s choice as to whether they need my help through a variety of different counselling skills or even split the session into a combination of Counselling and Hypnotherapy.

As a member of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) I adhere to their standards and ethics, offering both Counselling and Hypnotherapy clients a safe, confidential and non-judgemental environment to explore their issues.

All clients are treated with respect, no problem is too big or too small. I will work with you at your own pace and help you find the solutions that will work best for you. I am able to offer appointments to suit you daytime or evenings.

Hi there. If you’re looking for help and support online or via the phone you have definitely come to the right place.

I am an experienced NCS Accredited  Counsellor, NLP Coach and Clinical Hypnotherapist.  I offer totally secure sessions either using Skype, WhatsApp, Zoom, FaceTime or Telephone and I’m fully trained, DBS checked and insured.

I work in an integrative person-centred way so as well as Talking Therapy (Counselling) I also use NLP coaching, Mindfulness or CBT techniques where appropriate to offer you a very effective tailor-made package just for you and dependant upon what you’d like to work on.  This will leave you with enhanced self-awareness, personal growth and resilience as well as making the changes you are looking for. Moving forward, you learn skills and tools so that you cope better and manage life challenges with increasing ease, building your resilience all the time.

Many of my client’s have problems with anxiety either foremost or underpinning their worries. Depression is another key issue and both Anxiety and Depression can be mixed together. Other clients have unhelpful habits, life issues, phobias or fears, relationship or gender worries they want to deal with, or physical issues such as pain or illness.

Here’s to your much brighter future.  I look forward to working with you.

Carmen

I am a qualified Psychotherapist counsellor who practices with a Humanistic & Integrative approach. This means I will focus on the needs of you, using techniques from different approaches.

Each and everyone of us are unique and therefore I do not feel I am the expert of you and can tell you what to do, my belief is to support and guide you, with my experience to help you work through your concerns. So that you can start to feel more complete within yourself.

The first step in starting counselling can feel overwhelming, bringing past thoughts to the surface and stirring up feelings of being judged, neglect, not trusting the other. My attitude is to value you for doing the best you can. It can be tough for us at times. Let us accept us for who and how we are right now at this moment.

I have personal experiences around being judged, mental health as well as trauma, so please do not feel you are alone. Once we allow ourselves to sit with the uncomfortable feelings, we will begin to flourish.

With the outbreak of Corona Disease i am now offering support via Telephone and internet versions of face to face therapy, supporting people affected by the condition or illnesses that could be regarded as high risk during this tough period.

Life can sometimes be so complex and difficult that we do not always feel able to sort it out and get back to feeling “normal again”.

The complexity of life and the hardships that some people have to endure has always fascinated me, and having experienced many personal losses and life changing events myself, my passion has grown, and I would like the opportunity to “make a difference” and support those when it is most needed.

Working in my current work environments I understand how the demands of daily life and major life events such as a Bereavement, Domestic Violence, Physical/Sexual abuse, or divorce can leave us feeling overwhelmed, confused or even just sad.

I also have experience of supporting Family affected by MND, and emotional support around the journey they will be going through.

My role as your Counsellor is to help you to explore the feelings and emotions that are often related to your current/past life experiences. I offer you the opportunity to reflect on what is happening in your world and for me to support you therapeutically to explore alternative ways of copings and dealing with emotive issues, that impact negatively on your life and to family and friends that are dear to you..

I appreciate how difficult it can be to discuss personal problems or even where or how to begin, but I offer a safe place to express your feelings and concerns, listen to you without judgement, and give you the time and safety to explore your emotional concerns, and support you through your decision making process.

I am a person centred therapist which means I believe you are the expert in your own life. I work to help you understand yourself better and make decisions based on your own unique experience.

My experience covers a variety of addiction, including drugs and alcohol,  I am trauma informed, ASSIST trained and in the process of further training to allow me to work with children and young people.