
ABOUT ME AND MY WORK

ALI
HAYWARD


I am a qualified, insured, and supervised Integrative Counsellor and Psychotherapist available for both online and in-person sessions. I take part in regular Continuing Professional Development (CPD) learning.
I have worked with adults facing a diverse range of challenges, including bereavement and loss, domestic abuse, disability or health-related issues, caring responsibilities, agoraphobia, relationship problems, anxiety, depression, stress, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), low self-esteem, personal identity, personal development, ethical polyamory, non-monogamy, church hurt, unconventional relationships, discrimination, Covid/Pandemic trauma or concern, and spirituality.
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I am trained in Trauma-Informed Practice and have prioritised deepening this approach through my Continuing Professional Development (CPD) in 2025. I’m particularly interested in how the trauma of being othered can intersect with, and intensify, other traumatic experiences, and how this shapes a person’s sense of safety, identity, and well-being.
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I have had the privilege of working with individuals from different backgrounds, valuing and respecting their unique journeys, including other disabled people and primary carers.
Diversity and Equity
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While I provide therapy services to everyone, I am particularly passionate about working with individuals from diverse, minority, oppressed, or marginalised communities and groups. I wanted to become a therapist specifically to be able to do this and provide a warm, safe, relevant, professional, and ethical service - where our mutually diverse lived experiences are naturally integrated from the outset, rather than treated as an afterthought. While I may not know everything, I am committed to being an ally, and have lived experience of mainstream discrimination in many forms. All are valued and welcomed here.
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Qualifications:
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Post Graduate Diploma in Counselling and Psychotherapy - Distinction (2023)
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Award in Counselling Skills and Theory (2020)
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MA in English Literature: Creative Writing (2017)
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Award in Education and Training (2016)
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BA (Hons) in English Literature and Creative Media (2014)
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Memberships, Registrations and DBS check
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I am a member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). In my work, I adhere to the BACP 'Ethical Framework for the Counselling Professions,' prioritising the best interests of each client.
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Additionally, I am registered with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), ensuring the secure and confidential handling of all information in compliance with data protection regulations.
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I have an up-to-date basic DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check (often referred to as a police check).
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I am also a member of the Psychotherapy and Counselling Union (PCU).

‘We all should know that diversity makes for a rich tapestry, and we must understand that all the threads of the tapestry are equal in value no matter what their color.’
Maya Angelou