Alison Hopkins , BACP

Alison Hopkins is a counsellor based in the United Kingdom who helps people facing stress, anxiety, relationship difficulties, trauma and abuse, grief, and depression. She also supports people dealing with intimacy concerns, LGBT issues, anger, and life changes. Alison presents a calm, respectful manner and encourages people to speak openly about what worries them.

She aims to make sessions feel straightforward and humane. Conversations focus on what is happening now and what small steps could help. Alison uses listening and gentle questioning to help people notice patterns in their thinking and behaviour.

Her work draws on several evidence-informed approaches. She uses client-centred methods to prioritise each person’s experience and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy to identify unhelpful thoughts and try practical changes. Trauma-focused and psychodynamic ideas inform how she understands painful memories and relationship patterns.

Alison has 17 years of professional experience and holds BACP registration. That experience includes helping people cope with abandonment and attachment issues, infidelity, communication problems, hoarding, and first responder stress.

She also offers support around less commonly discussed concerns such as BDSM, kink and alternative sex culture, commitment worries, and feelings of emptiness or isolation. Sessions are conversational and paced to suit each person’s needs. Alison encourages people to take the next step when they feel ready.

Therapeutic approaches and online sessions

Alison draws on Client-Centred Therapy to put the person's experience at the heart of conversation. This approach means sessions start from what matters most to the client and the counsellor follows their lead to understand feelings and priorities. It helps with issues like anxiety, relationship worries, and feelings of isolation.

She also uses Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, which looks at the links between thoughts, feelings and actions. CBT offers practical techniques to test and change unhelpful thinking and build coping skills, which can be useful for stress, anxiety and low mood.

Choosing the right approach is part of the work together. Alison will discuss the options, listen to your goals and try methods that suit your needs and preferences. That collaborative process helps shape a plan that feels manageable and focused.

Online sessions are offered by video calls, phone sessions, live chat or text-based messaging to give practical flexibility. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation when needed, phone sessions work well for lower bandwidth or when movement is helpful, and text or chat can be used for shorter check-ins or more frequent contact. These formats make it easier to fit therapy around work, family life and other commitments while keeping focus on progress and practical support.