Alison Hollingshead - Counsellor and Psychotherapist

18/02/2026

8.5 weeks to go....

I like running, sometimes I even love running, sometimes it's hard to get my arse in gear and go for a run, but I know I'll feel amazing afterwards. It's great for my mental health and wellbeing 🥰

So, I decided to run a marathon. I'll be honest, I'm feeling a little overwhelmed by the miles. I chose Manchester as I lived there for 12 years, and made lots of fantastic memories there, and some questionable ones too!!

My intention is to keep running, if I can.

This is a personal challenge, but I've also chosen to raise money for Cancer Research UK, and this is why...

When I was a teenager, I spent lots of time with my best friend Alaine Skerrett and her parents, Christine and Nick. Their family was full of love, generosity and encouragement. Sadly, they are no longer with us and died too young, both from cancer. They will always be close to my heart.

Christine, passed away in September 2025, her fight with cancer was long, but she always remained positive and determined. Christine and Nick were always positive adult role models in my life, I've known them since I was 11 years old. Nick, also sadly passed away a few years before Christine. They are together now, sailing the sea's, I like to think.

There is still so much more to learn about Cancer Treatment, and the more research the better, as so many are affected.

So, please, if it's only a pound, it will all add up, and I will be very grateful.

To love, family, and making the most of life while we can,
Thank you,
Alison ######

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

Help Alison Watts raise money to support Cancer Research UK

17/09/2025

Just back from a rainy ☔️ school run! 🤪
With a change of clothes and a nice warm brew, I'm ready to start the day with some wonderful clients and supervisees 🥰

If you're looking to start therapy and would like to arrange a brief zoom call you can book using this link https://selfbeliefproject.co.uk/feel-more-confident/

16/09/2025

I have availability for a new Supervisee!

If you would like to meet for a brief Zoom call please follow the link to book https://selfbeliefproject.co.uk/feel-more-confident/ more details about how I work here https://www.counselling-directory.org.uk/supervisor_37533.html

17/12/2024

As part of my practice, I access a variety of training and professional development. I usually search and find trainings that are of interest to me, also when my client work highlights a need or stirs a curiosity in me.

This week I completed training with Carolyn Spring about SHAME.

I've been working as a therapist for over 10 years now and shame continues to be a huge part of the process for many people I work with. It comes up in my clients, in comes up in me, and it comes up in relationships around me.

Shame, blame, and guilt comes up a lot! It's a huge part of our society and difficult to escape.

Quite simply, the antidote seems to be compassion from others, and compassion from self. But is it really as simple as that? Well, not always. It can be easier for some than others depending on the depths of their pain and suffering.

To be able to reach self-compassion we might have to acknowledge any responsibility, we might need to process grief and loss, and then we will hopefully be able to reach self-compassion, repair our relationships and sooth our wounds. It's not always easy. It's not always a quick process, it can often take time and can feel quite painful. It can also feel liberating and empowering.

With the help of a compassionate therapist who is calm, grounded, respectful, empathic and caring, you can work through your feelings of shame in a way that feels manageable. Co-regulation with a skilled therapist who can help you process trauma, grief, and ruptures to enable you to reach a place of repair can be lifechanging.

11/12/2024

If you are looking to set up or grow a successful private practice in counselling and psychotherapy, I can offer you focused sessions to help you market your business and attract clients.

I'm a practising psychotherapist and supervisor with a thriving practice and I enjoy supporting other therapists to build confidence in their business. I offer a collaborative, respectful and compassionate space for growth either alongside supervision or as your own private practice coach.

I have experience of social media, website creation, advert copy writing, and niche development, so you can attract the people experiencing the issues you feel most passionate about.

I work with children, young people and adults as an attachment and trauma therapist. I work with people online, in-person and in nature.

Follow this booking link if you would like to meet me and discuss your options https://selfbeliefproject.co.uk/feel-more-confident/

08/12/2024

I offer supervision to counsellors, therapists and safeguarding professionals, online and in nature.

I work collaboratively and encourage supervisees to develop their own unique way of working. It's also a safe place to share the vulnerable parts of practising as a therapist or mental health professional.

I enjoy supporting therapists to develop confidence in their practise by exploring the process in a curious and respectful way.

If you would find it helpful to read how other supervisees have experienced supervision with me, you can view some reviews on my google page https://maps.app.goo.gl/ABn9xZGefggQeTUq5

If you would like to book a brief call you can follow this link https://selfbeliefproject.co.uk/feel-more-confident/

03/12/2024

Winter can stir some difficult feelings for some, if not most of us, especially at Christmas time. The dark evenings, the cold weather, and reminders of people we have lost, or family and friends who we are no longer close to. It can be a happy time, but it can also be a stressful and difficult time.

I love the book 'Wintering' by Katherine May, which highlights the need for us to slow down during winter. Animals hibernate, Nordic folk Sauna, but people in the UK keep going at the same speed and we wonder why we feel exhausted.

Similarly, during difficult times such as times of loss , or following a trauma, we may need to hibernate or slow down. Childbirth is another example of when a mother might need to hibernate, which can bring complex feelings such as loneliness, and relational trauma's can also rise and stir.

I'm now working one day a week, on a Monday, with people in-person from a lovely therapy room at King Street Chiropractic and Natural Health Centre providing Trauma and Attachment Psychotherapy.

I specialise in working with people of all ages who have experienced complex grief, trauma and relational difficulties.

If you would like to book a brief call, please follow this link https://selfbeliefproject.co.uk/feel-more-confident/

I have one space available now, and two spaces from January.

14/10/2023

This is so true 🥰 Often clients come for therapy to work through their triggers, so they can be calmer, more present and connected parents 😊

A child who is not afraid to trigger their parent, likely feels secure in their relationship.⁣
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Our children are not responsible for our emotional triggers, even when their actions are the trigger.⁣
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Whenever I notice that one of my children’s behaviours is a trigger for me, I start with me. I look inside to see why I feel triggered. I respond to that feeling of being triggered and THEN I try and figure out what need they are trying to meet.⁣
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You may think this is choosing myself over my child. I would have thought this before too but actually, I’ve realized, overtime, that when I try to understand my child’s needs, while triggered, I see things differently than I do when I am regulated.⁣
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So in order to meet my child’s needs. In order to really hear what they are trying to say, I need to respond to my trigger first. Or else, they will not get what they need from me and I very likely will escalate the situation instead, despite every effort to appear calm.⁣
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Our children will do things that trigger us. It is our job to process the triggers, not expect our child to change, in order to avoid triggering us.⁣
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⁣Learn all about common emotional triggers, in parenting, in my latest book 👇⁣
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Finding Your Calm: A Responsive Parents Guide to Self-Regulation and Co-Regulation⁣⁣⁣
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Link in bio or on the Website: responsiveparentinginspirations.com⁣⁣⁣
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13/10/2023

Nothing better than unconditional love ❤️

This is Bean our 4 week old kitten. He came into our lives having been abandoned by his mum at 2 weeks. We are currently bottle feeding him 😊

Our lovely ginger cat Colin was very sadly killed by a car last week and our other ginger boy Brian needed a new furry bro. We very gratefully found Bean during our visit to my in laws in Wales.

Secure early attachments are ideal, but whatever our early attachment is, whether we experience trauma, loss, or abandonment, there is hope and the possibility of love and security ❤

16/11/2021

Changing the language you use can have a profound effect on how you feel ❤

12/11/2021

⭐⭐⭐I delivered my Teen Believe Anxiety Masterclass to Chesterton Community Sports College today for year 10. They were brilliant! Really engaged and open to learning⭐⭐⭐

The feedback I received was very positive and they really liked the activities I suggested to calm the nervous system and reduce anxiety.

It was great to be in a school who obviously cares a lot about the wellbeing of their pupils.

After the 6 sessions I'm feeling accomplished, proud, and ready for a long soak in the bath! Hats off to all teachers who do that day in day out!

If you know a school or teacher near Stoke-on-Trent who might be interested in this please tag 🥰

30/10/2021

Do you recognise any of these?