Alison Fox Counselling Services Dorset

09/03/2026

The service will launch in July!

09/03/2026

Dissociation can be hugely debilitating and confusing to experience.

There are lots of reasons why you might experience dissociation. It can be linked to numerous different mental illnesses.

For , share this post to help raise awareness of dissociative disorders. Find out more 👉 rethink.org/dissociation

09/03/2026

Self-harm is often misunderstood, and talking about it openly can help break the silence around it. Lexi, who is one of our incredible listening volunteers, is sharing her personal experience with it, and how complex and persistent it can be.

“Self-harm became a consistent struggle for me from my early teens, it was almost like an addiction - something I couldn’t easily let go of. While it has become less frequent in recent years, I haven’t self-harmed in three years now, I don’t think it’s something I’ll ever be free of struggling with.

“Looking back now, I was using self-harm as a way of trying to cope with many different feelings like helplessness, powerlessness and self-hatred. At the time, it felt like a way to express and release these intense feelings. It made my distress feel visible and tangible, especially when the adults around me dismissed what I was going through.

“In those moments, I believed I had created a sense of control when everything else felt overwhelming. I also recognise now that it became a way of trying to communicate pain and anger I didn’t know how to express.

“I felt like I was meeting a brick wall with everyone I spoke to about my self-harm and su***de attempts. I distinctly remember the first time I called Samaritans. They were the first people who ever took me seriously, and who actually recognised that there was something wrong. I wasn't treated like a child or made to feel that I was being dramatic. My feelings were validated. From there, I felt like I could advocate for myself at a time when it would have been easy to just give up and think, ‘I keep asking for help and nobody is giving it to me.’

“I really do believe I wouldn't be here today without Samaritans. There were multiple times where I felt like I was going to self-harm, or I was going to take my own life, and Samaritans would talk me down. I have a lot to thank them for.

“Dealing with the core issues that I was using self-harm to cope with helped significantly, and later in life I received addiction counselling for alcohol and found much of it applicable to self-harm also.”

“To anyone struggling with self-harm, here’s what I would say, and what I wish someone had said to me: It’s hard to stop alone, so please try to find support, anywhere you can, even though it’s hard. I want you to know if you can’t find that support, you can be your own support. You can treat yourself like you would a friend, you can take care of yourself and tell yourself it’s going to be OK. ”

Thank you, Lexi, for showing such strength in sharing your story, and for being there on our phonelines to help others feel less alone. We’re so lucky to have you as part of Samaritans

09/03/2026

New Project Aims to Tackle Violence Against Women and Girls in Dorset’s Rural Communities

A new partnership project is aiming to ensure women and girls living in rural areas of Dorset can more easily access support and advice around violence and abuse.

Dorset Police is working alongside specialist charities including Paragon, The YOU Trust and STARS Dorset Sexual Trauma and Recovery Service to raise awareness of services available to victims of violence against women and girls (VAWG).

The initiative will see the organisations hosting a series of contact points and outreach events throughout the year, giving people living and working in rural communities the opportunity to discuss concerns, ask questions and learn more about the support available.

The scheme was officially launched during the Young Farmers weekend event in Weymouth, which attracts members of rural communities from across the county and the wider South West.

The project supports the ongoing “Here for Her Safety” campaign, launched by Dorset Police last year, which highlights the force’s commitment to supporting victims and taking strong action against perpetrators of violence against women and girls.

Adam Gill said the initiative recognises the unique challenges faced by rural communities.

“We are committed to the safety of all members of our rural communities, but we must acknowledge that women and girls are disproportionately affected when it comes to violence and harassment,” he said.

“We know that VAWG offences can be under-reported in rural communities and we are determined to work with partners such as Paragon and STARS to highlight the fantastic support available and make it easier for those living in rural areas to access these services.”

Representatives from the partner organisations said the collaboration will help ensure no one feels isolated or unable to seek help because of where they live.

David Sidwick said addressing the issue in rural areas is particularly important.

“In rural areas, isolation, limited public transport and close-knit communities can make it even harder for victims to seek help or be heard,” he said. “No woman or girl should feel trapped by geography or by silence.”

The outreach events aim to improve awareness of support services, strengthen community understanding and provide safe opportunities for people to seek advice and guidance.

Anyone experiencing abuse or concerned about someone else can contact Dorset Police or one of the specialist support organisations involved in the scheme.

09/03/2026

Confidential helpline - (UK) 0800 0086 811, (Eire) 01 873 2699 or email helpline@al-anonuk.org.uk
Alateen is for young people (12-17 inclusive) for meeting details call ⁠
0207-593 2070.⁠

You are not alone!

01/03/2026

“I like chameleons. I think it is neat how they can change themselves to fit in with their surroundings. It wasn’t until reading ‘…In All Our Affairs: Making Crises Work for You’ that I discovered I had a habit of doing the same thing. And, for me, that wasn’t a good trait.

“Chameleons change color for camouflage, to provide social messages to each other, and to regulate their temperature. I was changing my ‘colors’ to fit in. I became skilled at evaluating people and discovering what, and who, I needed to be to meet their expectations. I was more than willing to change myself to gain approval and facilitate the happiness of others.

“When I picked up this book, I thought it was only written to address specific crises in our lives, such as divorce, loss of a loved one, or childhood trauma. I did not expect to find the paragraph on page 82 that reads, ‘If I am not my true self around others then I don’t grow. I’ll have no identity. I won’t know who I am because I haven’t taken the time to know myself. I cannot encapsulate one area of my life—it ‘leaks’ into all the other areas…. I cannot say, ‘I will be myself here,’ and ‘I will be someone else there,’ without losing touch with who I am.’ I wondered why this passage was in the book. Then it became clear: not really knowing ourselves can be a crisis too. It was for me.”

“Knowing—and Being—Myself,” “The Forum,” February 2026

Anyone that has or has had alcoholism in their family carries some kind of trauma. In Al-Anon Family Groups, members come together to recover from effects of a loved one’s drinking. Although their stories may be different, they all share how the program has helped them live a more peaceful, serene life. Read their stories at:

🔹 https://al-anon.org/newcomers/how-can-i-help-my/

24/02/2026

🌿 Easter holidays: Half-Day Mental Health Workshop for Children Aged 9-13 🌿

Following recent interest, I’m planning to run a half-day version of the Mini Medics Mental Health course during the Easter holidays — ideal for children who would benefit from a focused session rather than a programme spread over several weeks.

📅 Proposed Date: 1st April (subject to min. number)
📍 Location: Tolpuddle

Option 1:
⏰ Duration: 3.5 hours
💷 Cost: £40 per child (includes a drink and biscuit)

Option 2 (shorter session):
⏰ Duration: 1.5 hours
💷 Cost: £20 per child

Option 3:
2 sessions, both in school holidays!
⏰ Each session duration: 1.5 hours
💷 Cost: £40 per child for both sessions

During this interactive workshop, we will explore:
✨ Understanding mental health
✨ Emotions and feelings
✨ Talking about mental health
✨ Looking after our mental health

Children will learn in a supportive, engaging environment designed to build confidence, awareness, and healthy coping skills.
Spaces will be limited. 🌱

If you’d like your child to attend, please comment below or send me a DM with which option you prefer, and I’ll be in touch with further details.

Suzanne is a qualified teacher with enhanced DBS, qualified with Nuco (endorsed by the FAA) to teach First Aid for Mental Health from children up to Level 3 for adults.

24/02/2026

SARAH: "Every childless person who raises their voice and shares their precious story is a gift to us all. Just thank you for sharing this. Overwhelmed and lonely is an experience so many of share. Thank you for your care. Warmly"

You can read this story at: https://worldchildlessweek.net/mon25/overwhelmed-and-lonely

24/02/2026

Have you heard of “Opening Our Hearts, Transforming Our Losses” (B-29) from Al-Anon Family Groups? Grief and loss affect almost every aspect of living- or having lived-with alcoholism. In this book, Al-Anon members share how they have learned to acknowledge and accept these losses and improve the quality of their daily lives.

If you are dealing with feelings of grief, check it out. It might help you too. You can read a sample at:

🔹 https://al-anon.org/for-members/members-resources/literature/feature-publications/opening-our-hearts-transforming-our-losses/

24/02/2026

24/02/2026

It’s Helplines Awareness Day, which is all about raising awareness of the amazing work helplines do every day and reminding people that support is always available ❤️

If you’re struggling and/or need to talk about your mental health, you are not alone.

Find our SANEline Services: sane.org.uk/support

Samaritans Mind NHS PAPYRUS Prevention of Young Su***de

19/01/2026