Alistair Semmence
Hello, I’m Alistair (he/him).
I’m a UKCP trainee psychotherapist and counsellor based in Peckham, South London.
MY APPROACH
The foundations of my approach are relational and integrative psychotherapy.
Relational means I see therapy as a collaborative partnership. We begin by building a strong and trusting relationship. This is essential for creating safety to explore difficulties and because meaningful change happens through connection. Part of the power of therapy is that it can offer time and space to pause and process with someone alongside you. I pay attention to what you talk about as well as what happens between us. Noticing patterns in our relationship can give valuable insight into how you experience relationships elsewhere. When misunderstandings or difficult feelings arise I see them as opportunities for understanding and repair which can be a powerful part of change. Together we will also look at how you relate to yourself and to others in your life.
Integrative means I draw from a range of psychological theories including neuroscience, child development, attachment psychology and trauma-informed approaches. Because every therapeutic relationship is unique, I use the ideas and techniques that best fit what is happening for you at the time. I also recognise that wider social and cultural forces shape our experience. We may explore how aspects of your identity such as gender, race, sexuality, class or disability connect to these broader systems. I aim to support you in making sense of and integrating your experiences so they feel less overwhelming and more connected.
My approach is also about understanding how you have been shaped by your experiences and how you’ve learned to cope with the challenges you’ve faced. I believe that we adapt to survive in the best way that we can and that we might reach a point where how we’ve adapted no longer works for us. There are difficult and painful realities of life that we sidestep for survival. Therapy can help move beyond just surviving and help transform us so we can live a more fulfilling and connected life.
About ME
I’m mixed heritage (British Thai), queer and in the fourth year of a five-year MSc in Integrative Psychotherapy at the Metanoia Institute. I have completed the three-year training and clinical requirements for the Diploma in Psychotherapeutic Counselling and will receive this in January 2026. I’ve been working with clients since June 2023. This has included two years as a counsellor at CliniQ, a holistic wellbeing and sexual health clinic for trans, non-binary and gender diverse people and also at Transform, a low-cost counselling service in South-East London.
In my work I meet people with a wide range of experiences. Some come with feelings of anxiety or low mood while others arrive not knowing exactly what feels wrong, only that something is difficult. Together we have spent time with relationship struggles, moments of transition, work pressures and the impact of earlier experiences that continue to shape the present.
Before training as a psychotherapist, I worked in the tech industry as a qualitative researcher. This included working for a dating app company exploring sensitive topics such as dating as a single parent, dating during the COVID-19 pandemic, sexting and consent and the experiences of minoritised communities on dating apps. My curiosity about who people are and how they tell their stories led me to psychotherapy, which felt like a natural next step. Having had my own transformative experience of therapy, I wanted to offer that space to others, supporting them as they navigate their own journeys and make sense of their experiences.
Sessions
I work with individuals and with couples and relationships on a weekly basis. Sessions are 50 minutes and can take place in person in Peckham or online. We meet at the same time each week.
Individual sessions are £70, couples and relationships are £100.
I offer a free 10 to 15 minute phone call so we can discuss what you are looking for and answer any questions you might have. Our first session is a chance for us both to get a sense of whether working together feels right.
During our initial session, we'll speak about what you're hoping for from therapy as well as understand whether you're looking for shorter-term or longer-term work.
If you want to get in touch to ask me any questions, arrange a phone call or book an initial session, you can reach me at hello@alistairsemmence.com.