Lesley Murray

Availability

I currently work all day Thursday and Friday afternoons. 

I can offer some variable online shifts to suit shift workers, dependent on availability. 

About me and my therapy practice

Most of us at some time in our lives will experience difficulties that we need support and help with. Therapy is one way to get help with these difficulties and involves talking openly and honestly with a sensitive and skilled listener about these experiences, to agree and work towards change that is meaningful together. Counselling is a relational process, because talking to a professional about our difficulties requires safety and trust, and this develops in the context of a relationship.

The term alliance in counselling communicates the connection, trust and safety between counsellor and client. This alliance, sometimes called the therapy relationship, is a collaboration between two people working with a shared purpose. It provides space to support change. Theories, skills and interventions are essential parts of good counselling, but the research consistently shows that it is this alliance in counselling that clients say is the most significant driver therapeutic change.

Alliance Counselling, therefore, puts the relationship at the centre of our work together. It takes courage to reach out and ask for help, especially when that means talking to a stranger. I will listen to you carefully, check that I have understood you, and agree a way of working together that sounds most helpful to you. You don't have to face things on your own.

Practice description

I work from a pluralistic counselling model, which understands that because we all are unique, we are likely to find some forms of help more appealing than others.

I will listen to your concerns, offer suggestions on how we might approach these, seek your preferences in how we work together, and agree with you the best approach for your needs and therapy goals. We will regularly review where you are in relation to these goals, as well as the helpfulness of our alliance.

What I can help with

Abuse, Addictions, Adoption, Anger management, Anxiety, Baby loss, Bereavement, Cancer, Child related issues, Coercive control, Cultural issues, Depression, Health related issues, Identity issues, Infertility, LGBTQ+ counselling, Loss, Menopause, Mood disorder, Narcissism, Pet bereavement, Post-traumatic stress, Pregnancy related issues, Redundancy, Relationships, Self esteem, Self-harm, Service veterans, Severe mental illness (SMI), Sexual identity, Sexuality, Stalking, Stress, Substance Dependency, Trauma, Women's issues, Work related issues

Types of therapy

Behavioural, Brief therapy, Cognitive, Creative therapy, Emotionally focused therapy, Existential, Gestalt, Humanistic, Integrative, Internal Family Systems, Interpersonal, Narrative therapy, Person centred, Phenomenological, Psychoanalytic, Psychodynamic, Relational, Solution focused brief therapy

Clients I work with

Adults, Older adults, Trainees

How I deliver therapy

Long term sessions, Long-term face-to-face work, Online therapy, Short term sessions, Short-term face-to-face work