Alison Holder, BACP

Alison Holder is a counsellor based in the United Kingdom with ten years of clinical experience. She holds membership with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). Alison meets people at different points in their lives and focuses on helping them find clearer ways forward.

Her work is practical and person-focused. She creates a calm, non-judgemental space where clients can talk through what feels hard. Alison pays close attention to relationships and attachment patterns as these often shape how people cope with stress, anxiety, loss and difficult life events.

Alison uses several therapeutic methods drawn from attachment-based, psychodynamic and trauma-focused approaches. She also draws on Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing, often with people who have traumatic memories that keep coming back. Sessions aim to reduce overwhelming reactions and help people feel more in control of their emotions.

She has supported people through grief, abuse, addictions, low self-esteem, relationship difficulties, anger and mood challenges such as bipolar symptoms. Alison also helps with issues like abandonment, communication struggles, impulse control and life purpose questions.

Sessions are approached collaboratively. Alison works with each person to agree goals and practical steps. She keeps language simple and sessions grounded so people can apply what they discuss between meetings.

If someone wants to begin, Alison asks them to complete a short matching questionnaire and then schedule sessions that suit their needs and availability.

Approaches that shape online therapy

Alison commonly combines attachment-based work and trauma-focused methods in online sessions. Attachment-based therapy looks at how past relationships influence current feelings and reactions, helping people change unhelpful patterns. Trauma-focused therapy helps people process distressing events and reduce overwhelming memories and reactions.

She also uses Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) when appropriate, a method that can help reduce the intensity of traumatic memories by guiding the brain to process them differently. These approaches are practical and aimed at reducing distress and improving daily coping.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapy itself. Alison will talk through goals, preferences and what feels most helpful, then agree a plan together. This collaborative process means the method can evolve as needs change.

Online sessions using video calls, phone sessions, live chat or text-based messaging offer flexibility. Video calls are useful for a fuller conversation and visual connection. Phone sessions work well when bandwidth is limited or for shorter check-ins. Live chat and messaging suit people who prefer to write or need brief, timely support. These options make it easier to fit therapy into busy lives and to maintain continuity when in-person meetings are difficult.