Alex Manly

Current availability (last updated October 2025):

Fridays: 

15:00

16:00 

17:00

I am a Humanistic Psychotherapeutic Counsellor (Diploma Level 6) and a trainee Humanistic Psychotherapist (MSc Level 7). 

This means I offer a space for individuals to reflect and make sense of what is currently happening for them - either 'here and now' or in previous experiences that have led them to this point.

I am especially passionate about access to therapy and recognise that, in the UK, it can feel confusing, stigmatising and expensive; often with long waiting lists.  I offer a 'sliding scale' fee and hold some sessions each week as low or no cost, which I hope offers more opportunity for people to find support.  I also facilitate conversations with professionals, to sign-post people to find the support they need with specific issues - The Waistlist.

I will begin by understanding where you are today and what brings you to therapy now.  Together, we will agree what your goals are and create a space to explore how you can move towards these.

My aim is to work with people in plain language and support people to take ownership of their own change and awareness.

Some people find more detail around a therapist's approach helpful.  I am informed by my training, which focuses on three pillars within psychotherapy:

- Person Centred: initially founded by Rogers, is a non-directive approach which fosters a supportive environment to facilitate the individual's self-discovery and growth.

- Gestalt: often credited to Perls,  this approach is experiential primarily focused on an individual's present experience, body awareness, and taking responsibility, aiming to integrate fragmented aspects of the self into a cohesive whole.

- Transactional Analysis: established by Berne, this approach can more psycho-educational and directional.  It reviews how the way we communicate can establish patterns (helpful or unhelpful) with the way we are in the world. 

All three approaches integrate with the underpinning that self-awareness and an empathetic environment can help people overcome experiences and grow. 

Initial call:

Before your first session, I would recommend we have a 15-minute phonecall so we can establish if I am the right fit for you - this includes whether you feel like we can build a relationship together through our work and whether I believe I have the correct level of experience to support you. 

First session:

If we agree to work together, we will spend the first session establishing your goals, helping me get an understanding of where you are today and how you arrived at the idea of finding a therapist; plus, I would encourage you to use this as an opportunity for you to ask questions of how we will work together.  And, if this is your first time in therapy, what you might expect.