Alison Hopkins, BACP

Alison Hopkins helps people who are dealing with stress, anxiety, relationship strain, trauma and abuse, grief, and low mood. She also supports those facing intimacy-related issues, anger, and major life changes. Alison works from a direct and caring stance that aims to make the first steps feel manageable. She keeps sessions straightforward and focused on what the person brings that week. Conversations are collaborative - the counsellor listens first and then offers practical ideas. Techniques come from several well-established approaches, matched to the person’s concerns and pace. Alison draws on 17 years of experience in the United Kingdom and holds BACP accreditation, which means she follows professional standards for counselling practice. She aims to make appointments clear and predictable, so clients know what to expect from each session. Common themes she addresses include attachment and abandonment issues, communication and commitment problems, infidelity and trust difficulties, and feelings of emptiness or isolation. She also works with people who identify as LGBT and with those exploring kink, BDSM, and alternative sex cultures, helping them navigate related stresses and relationship questions. Her style mixes client-centred listening with approaches that look at thoughts, emotions and past patterns. Sessions can include practical exercises, gentle exploration of past experiences, and trauma-focused techniques when needed. The goal is to help people feel more grounded and able to make choices that fit their values.

How Alison’s approaches work online

Client-Centred Therapy focuses on giving the person a respectful, non-directive space to talk. The counsellor mirrors feelings and priorities so people can understand themselves better and make clearer choices. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, or CBT, looks at unhelpful thinking and behaviour patterns and uses practical exercises to try new ways of responding to stress and anxiety. Finding the right approach is part of the work together. Alison will talk through the options and suggest a mix of methods based on a person’s needs, goals and preferences. This collaborative process means the plan can change as progress is made and new issues arise. Online sessions make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation when visual cues matter. Phone sessions use less bandwidth and can be easier to organise during a work break. Live chat and text-based messaging are useful for shorter check-ins or when someone prefers typed communication. These options give flexibility while keeping the focus on practical progress and emotional support.