Alison Preston

Alison Preston is a counsellor who helps people cope with stress, anxiety, grief, anger and low mood. She supports those dealing with relationship strains, sleep or eating concerns, low self-esteem and major life changes. Alison aims to make the first contact straightforward and respectful so people can speak freely about what matters to them.

Alison uses conversational, down-to-earth work in sessions. She listens first and follows the person's pace, then offers straightforward tools and ideas to try between meetings. That might include looking at unhelpful thought patterns, practising simple mindfulness skills, or focusing on practical steps to change a difficult situation.

Her approach draws on client-centred work that keeps the person's goals central. Cognitive behavioural ideas are used when it helps to spot and test unhelpful thoughts. Mindfulness is offered as a way to ease tension and improve sleep or coping with strong emotions.

Alison also brings in psychodynamic thinking to notice repeated patterns from past experience, and solution-focused techniques to set short-term, practical goals. She has eight years of experience and holds BACP as a documented credential.

Sessions are presented in a calm, non-judgemental way and aim to leave people with clearer steps for managing anger, grief or everyday stress. Alison invites people to take the first step when they feel ready and to match the pace of therapy to their needs.

Approaches you can use in online therapy

Alison draws on client-centred work that keeps the person's aims at the centre of sessions. This approach involves listening closely and reflecting back what the person says so they can make sense of their feelings and choices. It can help with low self-esteem, relationship worries and handling strong emotions.

She also uses cognitive behavioural therapy, which looks at the link between thoughts, feelings and behaviours. CBT is practical and focused, helping to identify unhelpful thinking patterns and to test small changes that reduce anxiety, anger or low mood.

Finding the right approach is part of the process. Alison will work collaboratively to decide which methods fit best with a person's goals and preferences, and she can adjust the balance of listening, practical exercises and mindfulness work as therapy progresses.

Session logistics should be confirmed before booking since specific formats were not listed in the biography. Ask about the current online options when you arrange the first appointment. Online work can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy week, allow shorter check-ins if needed, and reduce travel time so people can access help from different locations.