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Dr Alison Chivers – HCPC Registered Counselling Psychologist
I am a qualified Counselling Psychologist registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). I work in private practice in Gloucestershire, offering 1:1 face-to-face and online therapy. I have experience supporting individuals with a wide range of psychological difficulties.
I have worked across the NHS as part of a Specialist Community Mental Health Team. Previously, I worked in a private residential care home, offering therapy to clients with complex mental health diagnoses, learning disabilities, and neurodiversity. In my private practice, I primarily work with working-age adults.
Therapeutically, I work in an integrative way, drawing on a range of therapeutic models and tools to tailor therapy to each client’s specific needs and goals. As a Counselling Psychologist, I have trained in several modalities and take a Relational approach to my work. My main modalities include Relational, Psychodynamic, Person Centred, and Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT). I draw upon additional therapeutic approaches as needed. I am trauma-informed and a trained EMDR practitioner (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing), which I use extensively in my practice.
MY QUALIFICATIONS
Qualifications
2013 – BSc (Hons) Psychology, University of the West of England (high 2:1)
2015 – Postgraduate Certificate in Counselling Skills, University of the West of England
2021 – Doctorate in Counselling Psychology (BPS accredited), University of the West of England
Further training
February 2022 – Compassion Focused Therapy training with Chris Irons
July & November 2022 – EMDR Parts 1 and 2
2022 – Trauma Informed Care training
February 2023 – EMDR Part 3
2023 – STAR Supervision training
2023 – Critical Incident Debrief training
2025 – Internal Family Systems (IFS) – Introduction to IFS workshop
2025 - 2026 – Behavioural Family Intervention Training (incomplete)
MY EXPERIENCE
Experience
I have extensive experience working within the NHS (Worcestershire), providing Specialist Integrative Psychotherapy for individuals, as well as delivering psycho educational groups and training. This includes working as a Specialist Locality Lead Counselling Psychologist and working on the Specialist Psychosis and Bipolar pathway within the trust.
What Led Me to Choose Psychology
I initially worked with pre-school children and became interested in psychology through this work. After completing my Psychology degree in 2013, I worked in a residential unit for clients with complex mental health and learning disability presentations. I noticed that many of the clients I supported had experienced complex childhood trauma. I went on to complete a Postgraduate Certificate in Counselling Skills and was accepted onto the Doctorate in 2016. My doctoral research explored “Understanding Client Experience of Living in a Residential Care Home: Some Voices Are Harder to Hear.”
I am driven to connect with clients at an authentic level and to shape my work around the client’s presentation rather than a single model of therapy. I find that working in this way allows a strong therapeutic relationship to develop, creating the foundation for meaningful therapeutic work.
Background
I am proud to be from a farming family in Gloucestershire. I live with my husband and our two sprocker spaniels, whom I love to walk. I have two adult children. I enjoy yoga, swimming, and meeting up with friends.