Alexandra Winterburn

I have a MSc in Humanistic Person-centered psychotherapy. As a therapist I will work along side you in order to help facilitate your growth and change. I am experienced working with a large variety of issues, essentially my work is with you and whatever you bring into the therapy room.

Areas of Special Interest

• bullying
• depression
• anxiety
• grief
• addictions
• abuse
• relationships
• low self-esteem
• trauma
• self-harming
• eating disorders
• self-development

Counselling/Therapy Services

With clinical experience since 2007, I have worked with people aged 5 to 82 years of age within corporate, public and private sectors.

Deciding to undertake therapy can be a difficult and daunting experience. In our first meeting you will get the chance to familiarise yourself with my way of working. Neither psychotherapy or counselling are an easy fix. It is the ultimate investment- taking the time to heal yourself. It can take some time to develop an understanding of your ways of being and to learn how to change some behaviour habits.

If you are willing to truly engage with therapy and face yourself then I will stand alongside you and help you find your way. I will provide you with a safe and non-judgmental environment in which you can explore processes and issues from your past and present and identify ways to release yourself from toxic or damaging patterns so that subsequently you would allow yourself to rebuild your relationship with yourself and hopefully others in your life.

Counselling/Therapy Approach

As a trained Humanistic Person-centred psychotherapist, I hold a strong respect for my clients’ autonomy and their ability to dictate their own direction towards growth and change. As your therapist I will aim to guide you through your process (i.e. your experience and way of experiencing) and to encourage and challenge you in a respectful and safe way.

I tend to incorporate techniques from other Humanistic approaches such as Transactional Analysis and Gestalt. I also incorporate Mindfulness and Attachment Theory into session work as I believe that they play an integral role in our lives. At times I may also utilise Play Therapy, Art therapy techniques where suitable.

My belief is that as human beings we are formed in relationship with others and therefore believe that developing a healthy and trusting therapeutic relationship is key to successful outcomes.

Background and Experience

Trained and qualified in the UK, I have worked: in private practice as a psychotherapist, within the National Health Trust (NHS) as counsellor for Diabetic and Cardiac patients, given talks to staff and patients about the effects of cardiac trauma, and also run clinical assessments. I have worked as a child counsellor in a Primary school for an organisation called Place2Be in the UK- this is a service based within schools in struggling areas and often involved working alongside social services. Within the higher education system I worked as a university counsellor at the Nottingham Trent University.

In New Zealand I offer both private therapy and counselling services as well as counselling sessions through contract work with other organisations.

Clinical and Professional Supervision

As a supervisor I aim to facilitate your personal and professional and clinical growth and enable opportunities for deeper reflections and examining of your work to assure that you operate within the required ethical standard and codes of conduct as well as achieve further development for yourself and for your clients.