Al McLintock (She/They)

Therapist Directory Listing Category: Psychotherapists and Counsellors

About the Therapist

About the therapist:

I have benefitted greatly over the years from therapy. Based on these mainly (but not always) positive experiences I trained to be a therapist to offer opportunities to others to explore themselves, ease internal struggles and find understanding. During the sessions I will share tools and techniques that were taught to me, that meant that I have been able to learn self council and self support away from the therapy room.

As a therapist, this feels like an important part of the work. Sharing learning and skills so that people can leave therapy and then return to it as and when it is helpful.

I have particular interest in the impact of PMDD (Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder) for people who have menstrual cycles and how it can impact on them in different ways related to gender identity. As a queer person who has personal experience of PMDD I have a deep understanding of the unique difficulty it can bring.

I have experience of working with people who self-injure/ self-harm, who have thoughts of suicide, have difficult relationships with drugs and alcohol, exploring relationships and boundaries (romantic, family, professional and friends), thinking about and exploring gender and sexuality with overarching considerations of the impact of neurodiversity, trauma, self esteem and shame on a persons lived experience.

During sessions, I use an integrative approach that places the therapeutic relationships at the centre of the sessions. I welcome humour in sessions as ways of expression and making people feel comfortable and connected but if this is not for you, do let me know.

Sexual identity:

Queer

Gender identity: Non-binary

Gender history: As assigned at birth

Non-monogamy: No

Intersex: No

Neurodivergent: Yes

Personal pronouns: She/They

Qualifications - Links to websites:

Level 4 Advanced Diploma in Integrative Psychotherapy & Counselling
Iron Mill College, Exeter

LGBT+Awareness Course for Counsellors and Psychotherapists (24 hours - certified)
Intercom Trust, Exeter

Spiritual Abuse Training (5.5 hours -certified)
Intercom Trust, Exeter

Completed Defining GSRD Therapy (15 hours- not certified)
Pink Therapy

Working with GSRD Young People (15 hours -certified)
Pink Therapy

ASIST Training - 2 day
Pete's Dragons, Exmouth

Foundation in Integrative Sandplay Therapy (15 hours -ceritified)
Association of Integrative Sandplay Therapy

Registered member with the BACP
Registered member

Qualifications - Additional:

Award	Awarding body	Year of award

Experience and approach:

For the last 6 years, I have worked in the third sector with a wide range of people. For example much of my work focuses on supporting vulnerabilised adults to take part in volunteering activities at a community centre whilst providing mental health and wellbeing support.

I have volunteered with the Intercom Trust, an LGBTQ+ low cost counselling service, for over 2 years where I developed my skills as a counsellor specifically focussing on using GSRD (Gender, Sexuality and Relationship Diversity) affirming approach to support people to:

Explore their identities in a safe and supportive environment.
To build self esteem, confidence and self care.
To help untangle difficult experiences or patterns.
Supporting family members and friends who may need help understanding their feelings towards family or friends who identify as LGBTQ+
Working with people who experience spiritual abuse.

I use an integrative approach to counselling including techniques that include person centred, CBT, compassion focused therapy and pluralism (including using ideas from Internal Family Systems).

My main influence is the work of Meg-John Barker. I find their approach to psychotherapy is very valuable both in terms of access, for example they have many free essays, neurodivergent friendly zines and resources online. As well as their values in relation to psychotherapy being used as a tool for social justice.

Meg-John (MJ) draws up many different ways of working including using ideas of plurality (meaning we are made up of different parts, for example I have a strong pirate part and a strong part that likes soft things as well as many others), self compassion and understanding the impact of trauma. I have also been heavily influenced by Adrienne Maree Brown, Prentis Hemphill, Richard Schwartz, Irvin Yalom, Gabor Maté, and Bessel van der Kolk.

Approaches: