Alan | Psychotherapist and Relationship Therapist

Psychotherapy and Relationship Therapy Manchester

I'm a UKCP registered Certified Transactional Analyst CTA(P) Psychotherapist. I'm also an Imago Relationship Therapist and have 10 years therapy experience. I offer you a space where you can explore whatever issues are getting in the way of you leading the life you want to live. I seek to support you from a place where you perhaps feel "lost", "stuck" or "disconnected" to where you can move towards feeling more connected to yourself and others.

I offer individual psychotherapy and couples therapy in Deansgate and Sale.

What’s my motivation?

I’m originally from Cork in Ireland and have worked as a therapist for the last 10 years. 

My journey to becoming a psychotherapist began as a direct result of experiencing a challenging time in my early 20s and seeking therapy which was life enhancing.

My values

I am enthusiastic about working collaboratively alongside my clients where they can be their “best selves”.

I am a firm believer in treating everyone with the dignity and respect which they deserve irrespective of their identity, background, culture, sexuality, disability, life experiences, religious affiliations. Inclusivity is a significant personal value of mine (see below). Justice and fairness are of paramount importance, and I have worked with clients who have experienced forms of injustice and unfairness in society, the workplace, and relationships over the years.

My own philosophy as a therapist includes respecting and understanding each client’s perspective and treating them with the utmost dignity and compassion. I strive to support, be understanding and be non judgemental.

Client Choice and Autonomy

It is important for you to feel comfortable in deciding which counsellor or psychotherapist you want to work with. I ensure that all prospective clients can have a free 20 min chat either on phone or online to get a sense on if I am the right "fit" for you. During this chat you can give me a sense of what it is causing you distress/ discomfort at this time. I will answer any questions you may have about individual or couples counselling and what it entails.


Couples/ Relationship Counselling

I’m an Imago Relationship Therapist which is a specialist and highly effective form of couples counselling. Imago relationship therapy is a great way to get to know your partner better and feel more loved and connected. It is also about experiencing the joy of being in relationship and how it is important for us to show appreciations to our partner.

Many couples come to see me when they are in “crisis” and something significant has happened and or where communication breaks down. I have assisted couples in a crisis to communicate more effectively and begin to change unhealthy patterns of relating.

If you and your partner are going through a challenging time, struggling to communicate, feel as if you are not being heard or understood or missed this is normal. It is the power struggle of relationship which we all need to work through for us to reconnect and experience the joy of being in relationship which we all felt at the beginning of the relationship.

In Imago Relationship Therapy we learn to see the world from our partners perspective, to really listen and understand things from their world and they in turn can begin to see things from your perspective/ your world.


Who I work with?

For the past 10 years I have worked with clients who choose counselling to address a wide range of life and relationship issues. I work with clients on a short term or long-term basis. The benefits of working as a psychotherapist in private practice is that you and I work together and decide together how many sessions you may need.

I’m interested in you telling me about how your problem, issue,  or sense of being “stuck” or distressed is impacting on your daily life. I’m also interested in you as a person and your “story”, what happened in your life and what may be causing you distress at present. Together we will work on the areas you want to focus on as well as the meanings you are making in your life.

I am remarkably familiar with working with depression, anxiety, bereavement, work related stress, relationship issues, sexual identities among many other presenting issues.

If you stood outside my therapy room during a day you would find a mixture of clients from students to corporate/senior managers, public servants, office staff, allied health professionals among other work roles. I have the flexibility to see clients during their lunchtime break, before or after work. 

Inclusivity

Being oneself and having a sense of belonging is a passion and interest of mine. However, I understand that for some clients this can prove problematic. I have experience of working with gender identity, sexuality, and sexual identity and was a therapist at the LGBT Foundation.  In addition, I work with clients who are from diverse backgrounds. I’ve also worked with individuals and couples with various disabilities including those disabilities which are “non-visible”.

Having worked with many clients who have come to embrace a more content life I know that with your willingness and my support it is possible for you to overcome the challenges that you are currently experiencing and use them as an opportunity to give you the inner strength and courage to embrace the life you want for yourself.


Availability
Mondays: For in person individual and couples therapy (and online) I am based in Milton Hall Deansgate, Manchester City Centre. 9am to 9.30pm.
Tuesdays: For in person individual and couples therapy (and online) I am based in Northern Road, Sale Moor from 9am to 9.30pm.
Wednesdays, I work online only from 8.30am to 12pm and 5.30pm to 9.30pm.


If you would like to know more or arrange an initial no obligation 20 minute conversation, feel free to send me a message.