Profile / United Kingdom
Alison Preston, BACP
United Kingdom
Counsellor - Stress and Anxiety
See online therapy options- CBT
- Mindfulness
- Client centred
About Alison
Alison Preston is a counsellor registered with the BACP and has eight years of experience. She helps people manage stress, anxiety, grief and loss, relationship strain, anger, low mood, sleep and eating problems, self-esteem issues, and coping with life changes.
Alison works in a straightforward, conversational way. She listens to what is happening now and what people notice about their thoughts and habits. Sessions focus on practical steps to reduce distress and try different ways of responding to problems.
Her approach draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy alongside client-centred conversations and mindfulness techniques. That means Alison helps people spot unhelpful thinking patterns, practise small behaviour changes, and use brief grounding or awareness exercises where useful.
She also uses psychodynamic and solution-focused ideas when they are helpful. These approaches are used to look at patterns that repeat over time and to set small, achievable goals for day-to-day life.
Alison aims to make the work concrete. People are offered clear, manageable tasks between sessions and time to reflect on what did and did not help. The emphasis is on practical change and on finding ways to cope that fit ordinary routines.
To begin, people are asked to complete a short matching questionnaire and then schedule their first appointment. The process is intended to be direct and easy to follow.
How her approaches work in online sessions
Alison uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help people notice and change unhelpful thoughts and habits. CBT sessions focus on clear tasks and simple experiments that can be tried between meetings to see what changes. She also uses Client-Centred Therapy, which means conversations that follow the client’s concerns and prioritise their experience and perspective.Mindfulness Therapy is used to build moment-to-moment awareness of thoughts and bodily states. These exercises tend to be short and practical, helping with stress, sleep and anxiety by teaching simple attention skills that can be practised in daily life.
Choosing the right approach is part of the work. Alison will discuss goals, preferences and what has helped or not helped before, and agree together which methods to try. That collaborative process helps shape the focus of sessions over time.
Session formats are not specified in the biography, so confirm current options before booking. Online sessions are often used because they can fit around work, family and travel, and because some tasks are easier to practise between shorter check-ins. Registered or accredited professionals, including counsellors, commonly use online meetings to make therapy more manageable alongside everyday commitments.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
8+ years
Listed in
United Kingdom
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does Alison help with most often?
She supports people with stress, anxiety, relationship issues, grief, anger, depression, family-related stress, eating and sleeping problems, self-esteem and coping with life changes.
How does she use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy?
CBT is used to identify unhelpful thoughts and habits and to test new responses through small practical experiments between sessions.
What is her experience in practice?
She has eight years of experience working as a counsellor in the United Kingdom.
What credential does she hold and where is she based?
She is registered with the BACP and practices in the United Kingdom.
Which languages are used in sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can people outside the UK book sessions?
International clients are accepted; please confirm any practical details before booking.
How are sessions arranged and what do they cost?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be cancelled at any time.
What are the first steps to start working with her?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Details come from information the counsellor supplied to BetterHelp. A registration can be checked with the body that issued it.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are not safe, use the crisis numbers.