Dr. Alison Chivers

Dr. Alison Chivers is a HCPC-registered Counselling Psychologist dedicated to helping individuals navigate life’s challenges and improve their emotional well-being. With extensive experience in both NHS and private practice, she provides evidence-based, personalised therapy to support clients with a wide range of psychological difficulties.

Dr. Chivers creates a warm, non-judgemental, and collaborative environment where individuals can safely explore their thoughts and emotions. Her integrative approach draws from multiple therapeutic modalities, tailoring therapy to each client’s unique needs and goals. She has vast experience working with concerns such as anxiety, stress, depression, low self-esteem, emotional regulation difficulties, and relationship issues. She also has a specialist interest in complex psychological trauma, helping individuals process their experiences and develop effective coping strategies.

Additionally, Dr. Chivers works with those undergoing significant life transitions or struggling with the long-term impact of past experiences. Her approach emphasises fostering self-compassion and resilience, ensuring that clients feel heard and empowered in their healing journey.

Her therapeutic approach includes:

• Relational Therapy: Focusing on how relationships and interpersonal dynamics shape emotional experiences.
• Psychodynamic Therapy: Exploring unconscious patterns and past experiences that influence current behaviours and emotions.
• Person-Centred Therapy: Providing a supportive and non-directive space for clients to find their own solutions.
• Systemic Therapy: Addressing relational patterns within families and social networks.
• Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT): Developing self-compassion and reducing self-criticism to enhance emotional well-being.
• EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing): A structured approach to processing trauma and distressing memories.

Dr. Chivers works collaboratively with clients to ensure therapy is tailored to their specific needs, strengths, and aspirations. Her aim is to help individuals understand their experiences, develop healthier coping strategies, and achieve meaningful change in their lives. In her NHS role, she works as a Specialist Locality Lead Counselling Psychologist within a Specialist Community Mental Health Team, providing integrative psychotherapy and psychoeducational interventions. She has also worked with individuals experiencing complex mental health conditions, learning disabilities, and neurodiversity.