About Me

Alison Leyland B.Ed.(Reading).,Dip.Couns.(CPCAB).,Dip.Couns.(University of Bristol) CPC Reg., UKCP Reg.

I did not start out as a therapist and have a varied life experience all of which, along with the years of psychotherapeutic and counselling training, helps me in my work with you. Therapists never finish their training. Like others who are registered with reputable organizations I attend at least 30 hours of ongoing professional development each year (usually about 70 hours). I have had over 140 hours of my own therapy. Why? Because if I am to be able to work honestly and ethically with you I need to know myself very well.

Please look up CPC (Counsellors and Psychotherapists in Primary Care) and UKCP (UK Council for Psychotherapy). They have informative websites and you can check that I am listed with both. I do urge you to check that any therapist that you plan to visit is registered or accredited with an organization like these that has clear registration requirements and a strict Code of Ethics.

I work in GP Practices in Radstock, Chew Magna and West Harptree. I have been with these practices for about 10 years and, in addition to short-term counselling, the patients are also offered workshop training days in stress management that I have designed.

I work closely with a colleague, Flora Myer who is also highly qualified and experienced and BACP accredited. We run courses together and we are undertaking research into longer-term therapeutic group work in Primary Care.

I live in Wells, Somerset, where I have a private practice. I can offer day-time or evening appointments for counselling and supervision. In accordance with the ethical codes of CPC and UKCP I have a minimum of 1.5 hours supervision each month.

I took a lot of turns before I arrived at my therapeutic career. Nothing was a waste, and now that I am here I feel happy and privileged to be doing something that I look forward to doing every day!