Counsellor profile
Alison McWhirr, BACP
Counsellor - Stress and relationship support
See online counselling options- Client-Centred Therapy
- Stress and anxiety
- Self esteem work
About Alison
Counsellor Alison McWhirr is a BACP member with ten years' experience. She works in the United Kingdom and helps people with stress, anxiety, relationship concerns, low self-esteem, depression, ADHD, addictions, family problems, grief and anger.
Alison works from a client-centred approach. She treats the person, not the label. Sessions focus on listening, reflecting and helping people find their own solutions. She encourages clients to name what matters most and to notice their own strengths.
Her way of working is practical and straightforward. Conversations cover how everyday patterns affect mood and relationships. Alison helps people look at communication, boundaries and decisions that feel stuck. Sessions may include talking through problems, trying new ways of responding, and checking how those changes feel.
Alison has supported people with issues linked to adoption and foster care, attachment, autism and Asperger syndrome, blended family matters, and caregiver stress. She also works with concerns around body image, chronic pain or illness, commitment and control issues, eating or food-related struggles, and the effects of domestic violence and separation.
People who come to Alison can expect calm, patient conversations that focus on practical steps. She asks about what the person wants to change and then helps plan manageable next steps. To begin, people use the directory's matching process and book a first session to see how the working relationship fits.
Client-centred work and remote counselling options
Client-Centred Therapy puts the person at the centre of the work. The counsellor listens without judging and reflects back what the client says so they can make clearer decisions. This approach helps with anxiety, low mood, relationship issues and questions about identity or self-worth.The focus is on understanding the client's experience and helping them use their own strengths to change things that feel stuck. Alison will discuss which ways of working suit the client's current concerns and preferences. That decision is made together, based on goals and day-to-day needs.
Session formats are not specified in the biography, so please confirm current options before booking. Online sessions can make it easier to fit counselling into a workday, reduce travel, and allow shorter check-ins when time is limited. Some formats use less bandwidth or do not require video, which can help if a brief phone call or an audio session is preferable. Registered or accredited professionals can adapt pacing and practical arrangements so therapy fits with everyday life.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
10+ years
Listed in
United Kingdom
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does she work with most often?
She works with stress, anxiety, relationship issues, low self-esteem and depression, among other concerns such as ADHD, addictions, grief and anger.
What is her therapeutic approach?
She practises Client-Centred Therapy, which focuses on listening and helping people find their own solutions through reflective conversation.
How long has she been practising?
She has ten years of professional experience working with people in the United Kingdom.
Which professional body is she a member of?
She is a member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, shown as BACP.
Can I have sessions in another language?
Sessions are offered in English.
Does she accept clients outside the UK?
She does not accept international clients at this time.
How are sessions arranged and paid for?
Costs vary with location and sessions use a subscription model that can be cancelled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Select the See online counselling options button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Details come from information the counsellor supplied to BetterHelp. A membership or registration can be checked on the professional body's own register.
Online counselling is not emergency care. In an emergency call 999, or see the help numbers.