Integrative counselling in Durham, online and by telephone.
A warm, confidential space for anxiety, depression, grief, relationships and life’s difficult transitions.
Discover therapeutic services that restore balance, nurture your well-being, and help you reconnect with yourself.
Arrange a free 15-minute introductory callNo obligation - an opportunity to ask questions and see whether working together feels right.
Soul, Heart, Mind and Growth
Counselling
How counselling can support you
How I work with Anxiety
Anxiety can leave you feeling overwhelmed, constantly on edge or unable to switch off. You may experience persistent worry, overthinking, physical tension, disrupted sleep or avoidance of situations that no longer feel manageable.
Counselling can help you understand what triggers and maintains your anxiety, recognise unhelpful patterns and develop practical ways to feel more grounded. Together, we can work towards greater self-compassion, confidence and trust in your ability to manage uncertainty.
If anxiety is affecting your daily life, you are welcome to contact me to arrange a free initial consultation.
How I work with Anxiety
How I Work with Neurodiversity
Being neurodivergent can shape how you experience emotions, relationships, communication, sensory information and everyday demands. You may feel misunderstood, overwhelmed or exhausted from masking and trying to meet expectations that do not reflect how you experience the world.
Counselling offers space to explore these experiences without pressure to change who you are. We can recognise your strengths, understand your needs and develop approaches that support your wellbeing, identity, relationships and daily life.
If you would like counselling that respects your individual way of thinking and experiencing the world, please get in touch.
How I work with Depression
Depression can leave you feeling low, exhausted, disconnected or unable to enjoy things that once mattered to you. You may experience hopelessness, isolation, low motivation or difficulty imagining that things could feel different.
Counselling provides space to explore what may be contributing to these feelings without pressure to appear positive. We can work towards understanding recurring patterns, reconnecting with your needs and strengths, and developing a kinder relationship with yourself.
If you are struggling with depression, you do not have to make sense of everything alone. You are welcome to contact me for an initial conversation.
How I work with Depression
How I work with Relationships
Relationship difficulties can leave you feeling hurt, confused, lonely or uncertain about what to do next. You may be experiencing conflict, communication difficulties, a loss of trust, separation, intimacy concerns or challenging family relationships.
Individual counselling gives you space to explore how your relationships affect you, whether the other person attends therapy or not. Together, we can identify recurring patterns, understand your feelings, communicate your needs more clearly and develop healthier boundaries. I will not tell you what decision to make but will support you in considering your needs and the choices available to you.
If relationship difficulties are affecting your wellbeing, please contact me to discuss how individual counselling may help.
How I work with Grief
Grief can follow the death of someone important, but it may also arise after the loss of a relationship, health, identity, security or an expected future. There is no correct way to grieve, and your feelings may change from one day to the next.
Counselling offers space to speak openly about your loss and explore its impact at your own pace. Where important to you, this can include questions about faith, spirituality, meaning, hope or what happens after death.
If you would like support as you navigate grief and loss, you are welcome to get in touch.
How I work with Grief
How I work with Health Anxiety
Health anxiety can leave you closely monitoring your body, fearing that symptoms indicate something serious or repeatedly seeking reassurance. You may avoid medical information or appointments, while physical sensations and anxious thoughts reinforce one another.
Counselling can help you understand this cycle, explore the fears beneath it and respond to bodily sensations with greater calm and compassion. We can develop grounding strategies and build your confidence in managing uncertainty, alongside seeking appropriate medical advice when needed.
If worries about your health are taking over your daily life, please contact me to arrange a free initial consultation.
Hi, I'm Alex
I am a UK-based integrative counsellor with a BA (Hons) in Integrative Counselling Practice and registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (MBACP).
From my own experience of receiving therapy, I understand that asking for help can feel daunting. Taking that first step is meaningful, and I will meet you with warmth, empathy and respect.
I offer individual counselling to adults and young people from diverse backgrounds, welcoming and respecting differences in all their forms. I work with young people aged 16 and over, either face-to-face at Durham Therapy Centre or online and by telephone where appropriate. Young people aged 16 and 17 can usually consent to counselling themselves and may contact me directly, although parents or carers may make the initial enquiry. Counselling begins only with the young person’s understanding and agreement. Sessions are confidential, although confidentiality may be broken if there is a serious risk of harm or a legal safeguarding requirement. Parents and carers may ask general questions, but the young person remains at the centre of the therapeutic relationship.
How I Can Help
I support people experiencing anxiety, depression, relationship difficulties, stress and challenges associated with caring roles.
My integrative approach means that I draw upon different counselling theories and methods according to your individual needs. Rather than offering a one-size-fits-all model, our work will be flexible, responsive and tailored to your experiences and goals.
Where it feels meaningful to you, I can offer a spiritually informed approach. This may involve exploring your beliefs, values, identity, purpose, loss, hope or existential questions. You do not need to be religious or hold any particular beliefs. Spirituality will always be explored respectfully, collaboratively and at your pace.
Alongside talking therapy, I can also offer optional creative approaches, including the use of musical instruments where appropriate. Creative work can support emotional expression, grounding, reflection and connection, particularly when feelings are difficult to express through words.
What happens next?
01
Contact me — send a brief message or call.
02
Initial conversation — discuss what you need and ask questions.
03
First session — agree how you would like to work together.
Why Choose Alex
Nurture Your Mind, Body & Spirit
I offer a warm, collaborative and non-judgemental space where you can explore your thoughts, feelings and experiences without pressure.
My practice is grounded in empathy, authenticity and respect. I believe that a trusting therapeutic relationship can help you feel safe enough to explore difficult experiences at a pace that feels manageable.
I will work alongside you to help you develop greater self-awareness, emotional resilience and practical ways of coping. My aim is to support you in making sense of your experiences and moving towards meaningful change in a way that feels right for you.
Fees and information
Individual Sessions: £60
PureGym introductory offer: First 3 sessions for £40 each
Sessions last 50 minutes.
Please read the cancellation policy here.
I offer a free 15-minute telephone or video consultation so you can briefly explain what brings you to counselling, ask questions and decide whether I may be the right therapist for you.
The next step is a free, face-to-face consultation where we can meet and discuss what you are hoping to gain from counselling. I will explain how I work, talk you through the counselling agreement and answer any questions you may have. If we both feel comfortable proceeding, we can complete the agreement and arrange your first counselling session.
Frequently Asked Questions
I offer individual counselling to adults and young people aged 16 and over.
Yes. Face-to-face sessions are available at Durham Therapy Centre, with online video and telephone counselling also available where appropriate.
Adults and young people may contact me directly. A parent or carer may make an initial enquiry for someone aged 16 or 17, but the young person will remain at the centre of all decisions about counselling.
Young people aged 16 and 17 can usually consent to counselling themselves. Counselling will only begin when the young person understands what it involves and freely agrees to participate.
Before counselling begins, I offer one free face-to-face consultation. This allows us to meet, discuss how I work, review the counselling agreement and answer any questions. If we agree to proceed, your first counselling session will provide space to explore what has brought you to therapy and what you would like support with. There is no pressure to share everything immediately.
Yes. What you share during counselling is treated confidentially. For clients aged 16 or 17, I will not routinely share session content with parents or carers. Parents and carers may ask general questions about the counselling process, but the young person remains at the centre of the therapeutic relationship.
Confidentiality may need to be broken if I believe you or someone else is at serious risk of harm, or when disclosure is legally required. I will explain these limits before counselling begins and, wherever possible, discuss any necessary action with you first.
Yes. As a BACP member, I attend regular clinical supervision to support safe, ethical and effective practice. I may discuss aspects of my client work in supervision, but identifying details are not routinely shared, and my supervisor is also required to maintain confidentiality.
There is no fixed number because everyone’s circumstances and goals are different. Counselling can be short-term or open-ended, and we will review our work regularly so you can decide what continues to feel helpful.
No. You do not need to hold any spiritual or religious beliefs. A spiritually informed approach is available only if it feels meaningful to you.
Yes, evening appointments are available by request.
If you need to cancel or rearrange a session, please let me know as soon as possible. My cancellation policy explains the required notice and whether a fee may apply.
If you have mobility, sensory or other accessibility requirements, please contact me before your appointment. We can discuss the facilities and any reasonable adjustments that may support you.
Yes. Free parking is available for clients at Durham Therapy Centre for up to two hours.
Where to Find Us
Durham Therapy Centre offers a welcoming, comfortable and confidential setting for face-to-face counselling sessions. It is conveniently located and easy to reach from Durham and the surrounding areas. Free parking is available for clients for up to two hours.
Durham Therapy Centre, 26 Front St,
Framwellgate Moor, Durham DH1 5EJ
07990 639914
info@alextalbottherapy.co.uk
"One of the essential requirements for true spiritual growth and deep personal transformation is coming to peace with pain."
––Michael A. Singer, The Untethered Soul
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Crisis notice
Please note that this contact form is not an emergency or crisis service. If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 999 or attend your nearest A&E. For urgent mental health support, call NHS 111. You can also contact Samaritans free, 24 hours a day, on 116 123.