Alison May, BACP

Alison May is a UK-based counsellor with six years of practical experience. She is registered with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). Alison works in an inclusive, flexible way and aims to meet people where they are. Alison sees people who are facing anxiety, depression, grief and trauma. She also supports those dealing with relationship or intimacy-related issues, addiction, stress and life changes. She has a particular interest in ADHD, autism and sexuality and gender matters. Her style is collaborative. Alison believes each person is the expert on their own story and uses that as the starting point for work together. Sessions focus on listening, helping people name what matters, and finding practical steps that fit day-to-day life. Alison draws on approaches that look at how early relationships shape current feelings, how people make meaning from their life story, and how a warm, non-judgemental space helps people explore difficult topics. She pays attention to identity and lived experience and is an active ally to trans people and people of colour. People who choose Alison often want straightforward conversations and practical ways to cope. Work might include talking through difficult memories, changing unhelpful patterns, or building clearer communication and self-understanding. She offers video, phone, chat and text-based sessions to suit different needs.

How Alison's approaches work online

Attachment-based work looks at how early relationships shape current feelings and expectations. In sessions this means noticing patterns of closeness and distance and practising different ways of relating that feel safer and more satisfying. Client-centred therapy focuses on listening and understanding without judgement. The counsellor follows the person’s pace, reflecting what matters most and helping people make their own decisions about change. Narrative therapy helps people separate themselves from painful problems by exploring the stories they tell about their life. This can make space for new meanings and different choices about how to move forward. Finding the right approach is part of the work. Alison will talk with each person about their needs, goals and preferences and choose methods together. That collaborative process helps shape sessions so they feel relevant and useful. Online formats such as video calls, phone sessions, live chat and text-based messaging make it easier to fit counselling around daily life. Video allows face-to-face conversation, phone can be a simpler option when bandwidth is low, and messaging can be useful for shorter check-ins or for people who prefer writing. These options give flexibility for different routines, energy levels and communication preferences.