Category: Counsellors

Hello, my name is Alan Russell. I possess six years experience as a counsellor providing therapeutic interventions to both Adults and Young People. I have also counselled young people and adults engaged in the Self Harm Intervention Service, the Employee Assistance Program, and clients with a wide variety of presenting issues. I also coordinated the Step 2 Drug and Alcohol Early Intervention Service within the South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust.

Interests:
I have a profound interest in Counselling parents with fostered and adopted children and counselling children and young people who have been fostered and adopted. I also have an interest providing therapeutic intervention to clients who present with Fertility issues. I have provided therapeutic Interventions to adults and young service users who presented with Anxiety, Depression, Suicidal Ideation, Drug and Alcohol Addiction’s, Relationship issues, Fertility issues, trauma, bereavement, bullying, peer pressures.

Counselling is a collaboration and is client led, and I will work with you at your individual pace to explore your presenting issues. I create a warm, non-judgemental, unconditional approach to establish a trustworthy therapeutic alliance and work together to achieve your desired outcomes.

I provide a Person-Centred Approach and use Cognitive Behavioural and Psychodynamic Approaches within my therapeutic interventions to Culturally and Neurodiverse clients. A tailored therapeutic approach is created to meet your individual therapeutic support needs whilst instilling hope and empowerment to you. Counselling is delivered either face to face or virtually via MS Teams, Zoom or via Telephone.

Thank you for reading my profile and I will look forward to supporting you therapeutically.

Qualifications and Training
• Ulster University Foundation Degree in Counselling (Distinction)
• Level 5 Diploma in Trauma Informed Practice Counselling Children and Young People (pending completion 2025)
• Child Protection Training – Children in Northern Ireland
• Child Protection Designated Safeguarding Officer – Children in Northern Ireland.
• Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST)
• Naloxone Administration Training.
• Motivational Interviewing
• WRAP (Wellness Recovery Action Planning)
• understanding Self-Harm and Alcohol. Zest Training.
• Accredited Member of the National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society.

Registration:
Accredited Member with National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society
Registered Member with British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy
Independent Member of British Association of Social Workers

Qualifications:
BSc (Hons) Psychology
BSc (Hons) Social Work
Dip. Behavioural Science
Dip. Counselling
Cert. EMDR
Cert. Family Group Conference Coordinator
Advanced Solihull Practitioner and Trainer

Additional information:
My professional background includes Social Work and Psychotherapy. I worked with Barnardos NI from 2003-2021 when I left to launch my own private practice, Heartsease Consultancy. In my work with Barnardos I worked in both early years as well as Fostering and Adoption services. Working with trauma and supporting families was a daily practice in this role. In my private practice I provide 1-1 therapy for all ages using a variety of psycho therapeutic interventions and deliver training on various relevant subjects. I also deliver Outreach Therapy as an Associate Counsellor with Rural Support, training for WAVE Trauma Centre, Volunteer for CRUSE Bereavement, provide Independent Foster Assessments and Project Lead the Lets Grow Together Programme for Fresh Minds Education.

I am passionate about supporting children and adults to understand themselves and their emotional world. I use a theorectical knowledge base as well as experiencial techniques and strive to empower individuals to learn and develop internal resources in which they can feel resilient and have the ability to self-regulate despite adversities in life. The approaches and modalities I use in practice, epitomizes this passion and includes psychoeducation and resources to help promote emotional well being.

As mentioned my approach is very much trauma informed and tailored to the unique life experiences and presentation of the client.

Outside of work I go to the gym, walk my lovely wee dog, love wee treats like reflexology and massage, socialise with friends, have quiet coffee dates with myself and not forgetting spending quality time with my family.

Location:
Lisburn

I am registered/accredited with:
BACP (British Association of Counsellors & Psychotherapists, Accredited Member) NHS (National Hypnotherapy Society, Registered Member)

Code of ethics observed:
I abide by BACP & NHS code of ethics.

My counselling qualifications are:
BSc (Hons) Psychology & Sociology
CBT Level 5 CPCAB
CPCAB Dip (Relate) Relationship Counselling
FDSc Integrative Counselling
Dip HypCS Hypnotherapy & Counselling
Cert Person Centred Counselling
Dip Mindfulness
Cert in Online Counselling

My training areas are:
Working with Neurodiversity Therapeutically
Grief & Bereavement
Level 2 Safeguarding Children
Level 2 Safeguarding Adults
TESSA Trained Adoption Counselling
ASIST Suicide Intervention Training
Mental Health & Wellbeing Coaching
Cert in Alcohol & Young People’s Development
Cert in New Psychoactive Substances
Cert in Childhood Sexual Abuse
Cert in Managing Self-Harm

I have a special interest/experience in:
Integrative Counselling Practice, Relationship Issues, Attachment Issues, Mindfulness & Hypnotherapy Practice.

Additional information:
I have over 15 years’ experience in the voluntary and public sectors working with individuals, couples, and families. I currently work as a self-employed counsellor, an Inspire associate counsellor, hypnotherapist, and mindfulness practitioner.

My theoretical approach:
Integrative counselling (person-centred, CBT & psychodynamic)

I see:
Individuals, couples, families.

I am an integrative counsellor based in Limavady working with both adolescents and adults. I draw from different theories of counselling and can work creatively, as this allows me to tailor the therapy to best meet the needs of my clients.

I have a lot of experience working with a wide range of issues with adults and adolescents both through Youthlife and in my private practice.

I aim to build a therapeutic relationship based on safety & trust and to provide a safe space for you to work through your issues in a non-judgemental and confidential environment. I will work with the you to achieve your full potential.

I believe it is important to have self-awareness about our thinking and feelings and with this awareness we can start to create the change needed to live a freer and fuller life.

TESSA Counsellor

Location
Ballymena and 25 mile radius

I am accredited and regulated by the following bodies and adhere to their code of ethics:
Northern Ireland Social Care Council (NISCC);
Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) an independent UK-wide health regulator;
I am a member of the EMDR All-Ireland Association.
I am a member of the British Association of Dramatherapists (BADth);

Qualifications
2020 – 2023 Training in Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) and the Flash Technique (FT) (an adjunct of EMDR)
2019 Sensorimotor Psychotherapy Level 1
2007 MA Arts Psychotherapy (Specialising in Dramatherapy)
2001 MA Social Work
1995 BA (Hons) Humanities

Special interest
I am particularly interested in somatic psychotherapy (Somatic therapy operates on the premise that what happens to you in your life is stored not only in your mind but also in your body). My clinical experience, my training in EMDR, sensorimotor psychotherapy and creative methodologies embody my holistic approach when helping to improve the well-being of adults, children, young people and their parents/carers.
Both EMDR, Creative Arts and Dramatherapy are listed as interventions by Beacon House – Therapeutic Services & Trauma Team. They created the “Bottom Up” Approach to address neurodevelopmental trauma and it is underpinned by the Neuro Sequential Model of Therapeutics (NMT), developed by Dr Bruce Perry.
The “Bottom Up” Approach is designed to recover and repair each part of a child’s brain in a specific, phased and effective order.

Experience:
I am a therapeutic social worker, arts psychotherapist, arts facilitator and community artist. I have clinical experience in the assessment of forensic risk, mental health, parenting and child protection. I have particular expertise in the area of neuro-diversity; I provide therapeutic intervention to children on an individual and group basis and provide advice and support to parents.

As a therapeutic social worker, I have gained wide-ranging knowledge and skills from working in various statutory agencies and most recently as a child and adolescent mental health practitioner. I understand the treatment of medical and mental health diagnoses with medicine and have the experience of using behavioural and creative methodologies in conjunction with and without medicine to improve the well-being of children and adolescents. This knowledge and experience combined with my arts psychotherapy training, EMDR and FT training gives me a unique approach in my private practice.
I have worked in many diverse settings including the Education Authority NI, Youth Justice NI, NHS and a range of community non- statutory organisations.

In the Education Authority I have worked within the Happy Healthy Minds Project for Primary Schools since 2021, providing creative expressive workshops for groups of children and play based therapy for individual children.

Within the NHS I have gained extensive knowledge and skills from working as a senior practitioner in a multi-disciplinary Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) environment.

As an arts facilitator I work with groups of older people for Arts Care which is a regional arts, health and well-being organisation and charity based in NI. I provide arts facilitation for children and adults with learning disability as well as small groups of young people suffering from anxiety, with and without diagnoses of ADHD and ASD. I believe arts-based group processes, promote positivity and resilience.
I work under Creative Therapy NI.

TESSA Counsellor

Location
Limavady, Co Derry

Service provided
Creative Psychotherapy

I am registered/accredited with:
Fully accredited MBACP (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy)
MIAPTP (Irish Association for Play Therapy and Psychotherapy)

Additional information
Hi everyone my name is Siobhan and I am a Creative Psychotherapist specialising in Play, Humanistic Integrative Counselling and Mindfulness coaching.

I am known for my unique intuitive and authentic approach to therapy with the integration of creativity, play, embodiment and talking therapy.

I work intuitively, creatively and energetically to help clients understand themselves at a deeper level. My approach considers the person as a whole – Body mind and Soul.

I specialize in working with parents/carers and children through the healing powers of Play and help parents integrate knowledge with experience. 

My ability to attune and empathize allows me to create a therapeutic relationship where real transformation and healing can occur.

I facilitate individual and group sessions within my private practice, community, Education authority WHSCT, etc.

 A few examples of programs and workshops I have developed are as follows: –

• The Healing Powers of Play (For Professionals/Parents/carers)
• Mindfulness & Your Nervous System
• Nourish to Flourish
• Transforming ourselves, empowering our children (For Professionals/parents/carers)
• What About Me (For Professionals/parents/carers)
• Be Yourself
• Surfing the Waves (For Teenagers)
• Body Mind & Bump Connection (Peri-natal peer support training)
• Healing the Child within
• Mind Yourself (Teenagers)

For further details of my programs see contact details above.

Qualifications
My Professional qualifications are MAs Creative Psychotherapy (Humanistic and Integrative Modality), PgDIP Play therapy, DipHE Integrative Counselling.

What I can Help you with:
Birth and Developmental trauma, Attachment, Trauma, Addiction, Bereavement & Loss, Adoption, Fostering, Anxiety, Depression, Post-traumatic stress, personal development, Child related issues, Eating disorders, OCD, Spirituality and Stress

Types of therapy
Creative Psychotherapy, Humanistic Integrative counselling, Person centred, Play therapy,

Clients and organisations I work with:
Adults, Families, Young people, Children
Groups, Community Organisations, Education Authority, Western Health and Social Care, Doctors surgeries etc..

How I deliver therapy
Long-term face-to-face work, online counselling, Short-term face-to-face work, groupwork.

Contact information: please contact TESSA.

Name:	Siobhan Wilson McGlinchey
Location:	Limavady, Co Derry
Service Provided:	Creative Psychotherapy
About Me:	Hi everyone my name is Siobhan and I am a Creative Psychotherapist specialising in Play, Humanistic Integrative Counselling and Mindfulness coaching. I am known for my unique intuitive and authentic approach to therapy with the integration of creativity, play, embodiment and talking therapy. I work intuitively, creatively and energetically to help clients understand themselves at a deeper level. My approach considers the person as a whole – Body mind and Soul. I specialize in working with parents/carers and children through the healing powers of Play and help parents integrate knowledge with experience.  My ability to attune and empathize allows me to create a therapeutic relationship where real transformation and healing can occur. I facilitate individual and group sessions within my private practice, community, Education authority WHSCT, etc.  A few examples of programs and workshops I have developed are as follows: – The Healing Powers of Play (For Professionals/Parents/carers) Mindfulness & Your Nervous System Nourish to Flourish Transforming ourselves, empowering our children (For Professionals/parents/carers) What About Me (For Professionals/parents/carers) Be Yourself Surfing the Waves (For Teenagers) Body Mind & Bump Connection (Peri-natal peer support training) Healing the Child within Mind Yourself (Teenagers) For further details of my programs see contact details above. Qualifications My Professional qualifications are MAs Creative Psychotherapy (Humanistic and Integrative Modality), PgDIP Play therapy, DipHE Integrative Counselling. Membership Fully accredited MBACP (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy) MIAPTP (Irish Association for Play Therapy and Psychotherapy) What I can Help you with Birth and Developmental trauma, Attachment, Trauma, Addiction, Bereavement & Loss, Adoption, Fostering, Anxiety, Depression, Post-traumatic stress, personal development, Child related issues, Eating disorders, OCD, Spirituality and Stress Types of therapy Creative Psychotherapy, Humanistic Integrative counselling, Person centred, Play therapy, Clients and organisations I work with Adults, Families, Young people, Children Groups, Community Organisations, Education Authority, Western Health and Social Care, Doctors surgeries etc.. How I deliver therapy Long-term face-to-face work, Online counselling, Short-term face-to-face work, groupwork
Contact:	Please contact TESSA

TESSA Counsellor

Location
Belfast/Lisburn

I am registered/accredited with:
Registered member BACP with Certificate of Proficiency, working towards accreditation

Code of ethics observed:
BACP

Qualifications
Trauma informed Practice for Children and Young People( Level 5)
PGDip Counselling and Psychotherapy ( Level 4)
BA Hons Youth and Community work (Level 6)

Special interest/experience
Counselling for teens and therapeutic group work

Additional information
Alex Mosley brings nearly 20 years of experience of working with Teens to the Tessa programme. Initially training and working in Youth and Community work, he is also a qualified counsellor who works with children and young people that experience behavioural and emotional difficulties using an integrative counselling model. He has a creative streak and enjoys using a variety of methods to help young people at stuck points in their lives. He has experience working with adoptive children and teens in both a therapeutic, mentoring and group work capacity. Alex has also been part of the TESSA teens facilitators group, alongside Belfast Exposed in the Photography Wellbeing programme.

Location
Holywood Exchange, East Belfast

I am registered/accredited with
BACP (Registered Accredited Member); Reg. Member of the Northern Ireland Social Care Council (NISCC).

Code of ethics observed
I abide by BACP code of ethics. I also abide by NISCC code of ethics as a Social Worker.

Qualifications
Diploma in Integrative Counselling (Person-centred & Psychodynamic); Diploma in CBT Skills & Theory; PG Diploma in Practitioner Skills for Eating Disorders.

Social Work Qualifications
BA (Hons) Social Work; Post-qualification Award in Social Work; Advanced Award in Social Work (Competencies 1, 3 & 5); An Introduction to Research Methods & Quality Assurance in the Health & Social Sciences

Publication
Post-adoption Face-to-Face Contact with Birth Parents: Prospective Adopters’ Views, Turkington, S & Taylor, BJ, Child Care in Practice Vol 15 Number 1 January 2009.

Special interest/experience
Integrative Counselling Practice, Attachment issues, Childhood trauma/abuse, Relationship difficulties, Mindfulness Practice.

Additional information
I have over 20 years’ experience working in the statutory, independent and voluntary sectors as a social worker specialising in fostering and adoption and more recently as a counsellor in private practice. I currently work as a self-employed counsellor, part-time lecturer in counselling and I am a self-employed social worker speciaIising in adoption.

My theoretical approach
Integrative counselling (person-centred and psychodynamic).

I see: individuals, couples.

Location
Holywood & Belfast

I am registered/accredited with
BACP

Code of ethics observed
BACP Ethical Framework for Good Practice in Counselling

Qualifications
Diploma in Person-Centred Counselling (QUB)
PhD English
MA Sociology

Special interest/experience
Adoption and Fostering
Family Support and Challenging behaviour
Attachment and developmental trauma in adoption
LGBTQIA+ issues
Neurodiversity (particularly ADHD and Autism)

Additional information
I am an adoptive parent. I have worked in the area of parent support for many years, focusing particularly on challenging behaviour and the parent/child relationship. I also work with university students, providing mentoring for students with Autism. My initial training was in person-centred counselling.

In recent years I have undertaken training in fostering and adoption, developmental trauma, attachment issues, suicide and self-harm, parent-to-child violence, secondary trauma, suicide prevention and safeguarding children and vulnerable adults. I bring to my counselling practice a professional and personal understanding of the challenges of adoption, as well as its rewards.

I have experience of the Statementing process for children with additional support needs and of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services in Northern Ireland. I was commissioned by the TESSA Project to write the ‘Love and Rage’ support programme programme for adoptive parents of children with challenging behaviour.

In addition to my work at the TESSA Project I am a sessional counsellor for the Rainbow Project, working with LGBTQIA+ people and people who are questioning their gender identity or sexual orientation. In addition to my sessional work with charities, I have a small private practice.

TESSA Counsellor

Location
Greater Belfast

I am registered/accredited with
BACP Accredited

Code of ethics observed
BACP

Qualifications
MSc in Counselling and Supervision
Certificate in Counselling Skills
Transactional Analysis Certificate
Solution Focused Brief Therapy Certificate
CPCPAG Level 5 Relationship Therapy (Relate trained)

Special interest/experience
Anxiety and Stress Management, Communication in relationships, Trauma, family systems and Attachments, Grief and Loss, Stress and Anxiety, Self-care.

Additional information
I have been practising as a counsellor and Supervisor for 18 years. I have worked for over 30 years in the community/voluntary sector with individuals, families and more recently couples. Working with issues such as Domestic violence, sexual abuse, emotional abuse.

I also have 15 years’ experience working in the field of pregnancy, birth trauma, post-pregnancy related issues, bereavement, post-natal depression and anxiety.

In my current post I coordinate a counseling service and provide supervision and training for counsellors. I worked for five years with parents in community-based settings, supporting them to develop ways to communicate with their children and engage in difficult conversations. Part of this work was with foster parents.

I have also worked with birth and adoptive families at different stages of the adoption process. I have a good sense of how complex things can be and why it is so important that everyone involved receives the support they need when they need it.

I have my own practice room in North Belfast with availability daytime and evenings. My room is within a shared building, and is accessible on the ground floor. Free parking is available on site.

My theoretical approach
I work with clients in an integrative way. While I hold Rogerian principals my work is underpinned by systems and attachment theories.   I also use the Transactional Analysis model of communication.

I see: Individuals and Couples

Willing to travel: Yes