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AJ Bettison - The Village Counsellor

Therapist Directory Listing Category: Psychotherapists and Counsellors
About the Therapist
About the therapist:

I volunteer as Vice Chair of Relationships Scotland Orkney and a trustee of The Pier Arts Centre.  When I'm not working, I might be found at my weaving loom.

Psychotherapy is my third career: I was formerly a technical translator for the British Army in Germany, and then a finance and operations professional in the venture capital and start-up sector in Cambridge.

Sexual identity:
  • Bi- | Pansexual
  • Queer
Gender identity: I use another term
Gender history: Not as assigned at birth
Non-monogamy: No
Intersex: No
Neurodivergent: Unsure
Personal pronouns: She / They
Qualifications - Links to websites:

I hold a Post Graduate Diploma in Integrative Counselling from The Minster Centre in London, and I’m a Registered Member of the British Association of Counselling & Psychotherapy.

Qualifications - Additional:
Award Awarding body Year of award
Advanced Diploma in Relationship and Psychosexual Therapy NAOS Ongoing
Accredited Infant Loss Counsellor Foundation for Infant Loss 2024
Practitioner Member Registered No 4838 COSCA 2021
Post Graduate Certificate in Clinical Supervision Relational Change 2020
Experience and approach:

I've been a counsellor and psychotherapist since 2016, and a clinical supervisor to other practitioners since 2020.  I describe myself as a pluralistic, relational counsellor, and that means I believe that human relationships are at the heart of how we develop and adapt as people. Each person, and each of our relationships, is unique; and so no one approach to psychology and mental health is going to fit for every person. Accordingly, so far as I am able, I aim to offer a flexible, tailored approach to each client.

At different times I've provided therapy in the private sector, the NHS, and the third sector. I work with individuals aged 18+ and also couples and people in other relationship configurations.  In terms of theory, I've chiefly been influenced by Gestalt and other Humanistic theories, attachment theory, and the various theories that embrace parts work (e.g. IFS among others).

Approaches:
  • Attachment theory (Psychodynamic)
  • Couple therapy
  • Humanistic
  • Integrative
  • Internal Family Systems Therapy (IFS)
  • Psychodynamic
  • Relational
  • Relationship therapy
Marginalised groups:
  • Ace | Asexual
  • Bi- | Pansexual
  • Cross-dresser
  • Intersex
  • Lesbian
  • Non-binary | Genderqueer
  • Queer
  • Questioning
  • Trans
Relationship styles:
  • One to one
  • Two people
Access:
  • No adaptation
Age ranges:
  • Adults
  • Seniors (60+)
Online status:
  • Online
  • In Person

My fee for a 60-minute session is £70 for individuals and £90 for couples.  My fees for other arrangements - including e.g. longer sessions, or meeting away from my premises - may be higher, and agreed between us, depending on location, travel time etc.

I am willing to negotiate reduced rates by up to 50% with people who want to access counselling, but can't afford the above rates.

Church Road, St Margarets Hope, Orkney KW17 2SR, United Kingdom
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Email: thevillagecounsellor@gmail.com

Website:

https://www.thevillagecounsellor.co.uk
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